From National Geographic (14 April 2025)

All Eyes on Fiji and Rotuma's Ocean as Scientists Launch New Marine Expedition
National Geographic Pristine Seas will study and film the vibrant waters of Fiji and Rotuma in support of ocean protection efforts

By Jenelle Eli
Sr. Director of Communications

Suva, Fiji / Ahau, Rotuma (14 April 2025) — A team of scientists and filmmakers from National Geographic Pristine Seas begins its expedition this week in support of marine protections in Fiji and Rotuma. The crew — which is made up of local and international experts — will study the South Pacific waters from the deep sea to shallow reefs.

The expedition is taking place between April and September at the invitation of Fiji's government. In partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, and Blue Prosperity Fiji, Pristine Seas will provide key data about the ocean's health and create two documentary films about communities' special relationship with the sea.

The team's first stop is Rotuma — a volcanic island surrounded by uninhabited islets — that is a self-governing dependency of Fiji. To date, there has been no research conducted in Rotuma's biodiverse deep-sea ecosystems. These vast, dark depths could harbor hundreds of extraordinary species adapted to extreme conditions.

"Exploring our ocean under the stewardship of Rotuma and her people is a milestone achievement," said Chairman of the Council of Rotuma, Gagaj Manav. "The Council of Rotuma welcomes National Geographic Pristine Seas to Rotuma to help us better understand the richness of our ocean. Rotuma is committed to protecting our cultural heritage anchored in the ocean that surrounds us and to safeguarding our people's wellbeing through science, education, awareness, cooperation-assistance, and well-meaning dialogue."

Fiji and Rotuma's lush underwater ecosystems are home to marine turtles, humpback whales, reef fish, manta rays, sea snakes, corals and more. Several species — like dwarf gobies, pygmy gobies and the Fiji petrel — are found only in Fiji and Rotuma. In studying this unique wilderness, the Pristine Seas team hopes to highlight the beauty of the ocean and the power that marine protected areas have to restore wildlife, strengthen economies, increase food security and build climate resilience.

"Fiji has a rich culture of traditional ocean management and conservation through qoliqoli and tabus," remarked Kevin Chand, Senior Director Pacific Ocean Policy for Pristine Seas. "Fiji has made enormous progress in recent years to protect its ocean. Our expeditions aim to leverage and complement this work and support Fiji as it seeks to achieve its conservation goals by 2030. Being from Fiji with a maternal connection to Rotuma, I'm doubly excited to be part of this expedition and work closely with communities here."

In Fiji, the team will study dozens of locally managed marine areas (LMMAs or Tabu areas) in Kadavu. After, they will study areas including the Great Astrolabe Reef and Great Sea Reef (two of the longest barrier reefs in the world) and the Melanesian Border Plateau — a system of undersea ridges, seamounts, and banks of volcanic origin that extends across the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tuvalu, and Tonga. In the Ringgold Islands, the team will carry out seabird surveys to learn more about the Lesser Frigatebird and Red-footed Booby.

Gathering biodiversity information from locally protected marine areas and previously unexplored ecosystems, the results can help inform local ocean management and protection efforts.

"As an island nation dependent on the ocean for its sustenance and livelihoods, Fiji has committed to protect our ocean ecosystems to support ocean health, productivity and resilience," said Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. "We have invited National Geographic Pristine Seas to support our commitment to protect 30% of our ocean by 2030. The Pristine Seas team of local and international researchers will provide the science and data key to identifying our marine biodiversity hotspots we need to protect."

Living and working aboard the Argo research vessel, the team will assess the ocean's health with deep sea cameras, SCUBA dive surveys, seabird counts, underwater visual surveys, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, micropaleo sampling and more.

Pristine Seas' new submersible, the Argonauta, will enable team members to explore the deep sea. An underwater science lab, the sub can dive 1,300 meters and quietly maneuver in all directions, much like a drone. It can get close to reefs, walls, and seamounts in a safe and unobtrusive manner. Passengers will be able to view underwater life from every angle and in real-time.

"Our researchers survey all sorts of marine environments, from shallow coral reefs to the deep sea. We document marine life ranging from tiny invertebrates to sharks and marine mammals," said Kat Millage, lead scientist for Pristine Seas' expedition in Fiji and Rotuma. "The most important part of our research is collaborating with local scientists. When we take our cues from traditional knowledge — which demonstrates that protection and production can co-exist — we all win."

The expedition will build upon knowledge from Blue Prosperity Fiji's nationwide assessment of coral reefs in 2023. The new research will fill data gaps in key areas identified as potential conservation targets. After the expedition, Pristine Seas will provide critical information to Fiji government to inform opportunities to expand and enhance marine protections.

"We are proud to partner with National Geographic Pristine Seas on its upcoming expedition in Fiji, which will build upon and complement research from partners across Fiji gathered during the 2023 nationwide coral reef survey, led by the Government and Blue Prosperity Fiji," said Saras Sharma, Fiji Country Manager, Blue Prosperity Fiji. "This expedition will deepen the understanding of Fiji's marine ecosystems, support sustainable ocean management and Fiji's commitment to sustainably manage 100% of its ocean and fully protect 30% of its ocean by 2030."

In collaboration with National Geographic Education and the Fiji Ministry of Education, educators and students will board Pristine Seas' dedicated research vessel, the Argo, to meet the scientists, filmmakers and crew, so they can explore exciting career paths and learn more about marine science.

In partnership with Birdlife Fiji, Pristine Seas will also study the waters off Gau Island to try and locate Fiji petrels at sea in order to determine the location for their nesting grounds on land. The effort aims to shed light on one of the rarest and least understood bird species in the world.

Pristine Seas started its Global Expedition in 2023 with a mission to spend five years exploring the tropical Pacific and supporting communities and governments in their efforts to protect the ocean. The Fiji expedition will be the ninth stop on the Global Expedition. Previously, the team has explored and studied the Southern Line Islands, Tongareva, Niue, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

From Fiji Times via Pressreader (3 April 2025)

Power to account!

PUBLIC Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau is not happy with the rate of progress of infrastructure upgrade works in the maritime areas. That's a good thing! Being unhappy that is!

In fact for those directly impacted by this, it is frustrating.

It can be very stressful and adds up to more challenges.

It impacts their lives, yet for some, it is the norm now.

Such pressures inch out a sense of uncertainty, anger and a lack of confidence in systems that are supposed to make their lives better.

They slow down progress to a large extent. According to the minister, the ministry was looking to revive depots on maritime islands to allow for the regular maintenance of infrastructure on the islands.

His comments come as poorly maintained roads on Rotuma were blamed for some major challenges faced by Rotumans.

Poor road conditions forced truck operators to stop servicing schools recently, leaving students stranded.

Ro Tuisawau confirmed a team departed Suva for Rotuma last week with staff and equipment to fix the roads on the island. Overall, he said he was not happy with some of the progress.

"So, all the entities working under me, they need to up the level of service in terms of timing and efficiency and effectiveness of delivery.

"I met the FRA (Fiji Roads Authority) board and also the senior management and expressed to them we need to improve on these things, especially maintenance, and ensure the facilities are standard in terms of the facilitation of travel of our people."
That's the way to go!

In fact questions will no doubt be asked about processes and systems in place. And how things were done in the past.

It seems, for many of these affected islanders, it is a bit like out-of-sight, out-of-mind! That shouldn't be the case.

In fact every Fijian deserves to be treated fairly and equally. That means infrastructure development must be embracing of the needs of all.
So if such work has not been carried out well over the years, we should be questioning those responsible about what they were doing.

It is when people accept such things as a normal part of their lives that we must be concerned.

It is encouraging that the minister has placed staff on notice and wants to see an improvement in service delivery. In fact, those who are trying to beat the system, and are not prepared to do their work, mus tbe held up to scrutiny. They must be accountable for their action. It is now about holding power to account.

It is unfortunate that people have to suffer. However, it is good that this is being raised now, and action is being taken to address concerns. That's the way to go!

DONALD SINGH

Doing Road Work on Rotuma

Photos posted by Betty Walker on Facebook The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has commenced road rehabilitation on Rotuma Island, focusing on the critical Motusa Circular Road. Recognizing the urgent need for comprehensive improvements, restoration is underway for the most damaged sections, with surface grading and compaction. In alignment with long-term infrastructure goals, the FRA aims to resheet the entire 35 km road network on the island which will be supported by a dedicated crusher that will produce aggregate materials necessary for road rehabilitation.

From Fiji Times (24 March 2025)

Rotuma faces waste crisis

By Elena Vucukula

An urgent call has been made by the people of Rotuma to relook at the impact of improper waste management on the island.

Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) founder Amitesh Deo revealed this at a roundtable discussion in Nadi when asked on the organisation's plans for rural areas and outer islands in need of proper waste management services.

"Rotuma was never going to be something that we wanted to sort of trial because it was so far away," Mr Deo said

"But there has been an urgent call out from the community for us to bring solutions there because they can actually see and experience the impact of improper waste management on the island."

Mr Deo said it was not an easy problem to solve the waste management of those in the outer islands.

"That is a very pressing issue about the waste management issues on the outer islands.

"Part of our movement calls on government agencies, development partners and our partners to look at the waste management crisis beyond the privileged communities and urban centres and how do we provide solutions to rural areas and to outer islands, so it is part of the equation.

"It is not an easy problem to solve."

From International Olympic Committee (17 March 2025)

Dr Robin E. Mitchell appointed as Chair of the IOC's Health,
Medicine and Science Commission

Dr Robin E. Mitchell, a former Fiji national representative in athletics and hockey and a national hockey coach, has been appointed as Chair of the IOC Health, Medicine and Science Commission.

© IOC/Greg Martin

In his role as an IOC Member, he represents and promotes the interests of the IOC and those of the Olympic Movement, in particular in the field of sports sciences, to position the IOC as the reference in sports medicine, through education, research and partnerships, with the ultimate goal of protecting and promoting athlete health.

Additionally, the Safe Sport Regional Hub Initiative will benefit from Dr Mitchell's expertise in the Pacific Islands region, where one of the pilot Safe Sport Hubs is being established. By working closely with sports organisations, governments and civil society, the hubs will facilitate access to localised care, guidance and support for those affected by interpersonal violence in sport, and will help to strengthen safeguarding through sport - driving long-term change from the local level.

Dr Mitchell took up his post on 1 January 2025, succeeding Prof. Uğur Erdener, who had led the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission since 2014.

Dr Mitchell was a family medicine practitioner and a Fiji team physician at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and South Pacific Games.

He first joined the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) as a member of its Medical Commission, becoming ONOC President in 2009 and then Acting President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in 2018.

Dr Mitchell has extensive experience in the field of sports medicine, having been a member of several medical commissions, including World Athletics, the International Hockey Federation and the ANOC Medical Commission. He also represented the IOC on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Foundation Board.

From Fiji Times via Pressreader (18 March 2025)

Poor roads hinder travelers in Rotuma

By Shayal Devi

STUDENTS on Rotuma are still missing school as poor road conditions are yet to be fixed.

As a result, the Council of Rotuma has requested for an end to road woes by implementing a regular maintenance program for the island's road networks.

Council adviser Dr John Fatiaki said they had met with Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau to raise their concerns.

He said the ministry would send a Public Works Department (PWD) team with appropriate machinery before the end of this month to commence road work repairs and maintenance on the island's main road.

Dr Fatiaki said the team would remain on site until all works were completed to the satisfaction of civil engineers and other experts.

Following the meeting, he said it was also decided that upon the completion of works, some machinery would remain at the depot on the island for continued maintenance works.

He said they also aimed to reach an agreement between the council, ministry, and Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) about the continued maintenance of Rotuma's roads.

"The council will assist the PWD personnel in any way that they can during their time on the island."

Earlier, Ro Filipe had said there was a need to improve services, and he was looking at changes to ensure that maintenance was on time with adequate scope and resources.

From Fiji Sun via Pressreader (6 March 2025)

Bridging Tradition, Modernity at Women's Expo

By Sosiveta Korobiau

In rural maritime areas, cultural practices are slowly fading, making it harder for elders like Fuata Maraama of Rotuma to pass on traditional knowledge to younger generations.

Ms Maraama, who traveled from Rotuma to Suva for the National Women's Expo, found comfort and a sense of belong≠ing among fellow artisans at the Vodafone Arena.

"This is my first time at the expo, something I've always dreamed of back on the island, where we're limited to only a few events to showcase our goods," said Ms Maraama.

"Being part of this event reminds me of the rich and diverse culture we have as a small nation. Despite our size, we continue to make strides, creating opportunities for families to live stable lives."

However, she said that the real challenge lies on the island, where teaching young girls traditional practices is becoming increasingly difficult due to the pressures of modernisation.

"Back on the island, we're trying to teach our young girls traditional skills, hut modernisation is slowly seeping into our homes, making it harder to preserve our ways," Maraama added.

Ms Maraama and her family have benefited from the income generated through the crafts she has been making since childhood.

Crafting has provided a source of income for me and my family, helping us overcome the difficulties we face back on the island," she said.

"There are so many resources around us, and with a bit of effort, we can tap into their potential to generate income. It takes time, but it's worth the wait.

She emphasised that, even after years of working with limited resources, she has never regretted her path.

Fuata Maraama showcasing her handmade products that are display during the Fiji National Expo at Vodaphone Arena, Suva on March 5, 2025

From Fiji Times (5 March 2025)

Bad roads in Rotuma affect students

By Shayal Devi

Two students escaped injuries on Rotuma when the truck they were travelling in hit a pothole, resulting in them being tossed out of the vehicle.

As a result, truck drivers on the island have stopped their operations until the roads are fixed, forcing as many as 300 students to be kept away from school.

Council of Rotuma advisor Dr John Fatiaki summed up the situation, saying the kids were being punished through no fault of theirs.

Referring to the long standing issue, Dr Fatiaki, the 2006 senator for Rotuma, said that initially the Public Works Department (PWD) looked after the maintenance of roads on the island, a responsibility which later fell to the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA).

He said the PWD depot on Rotuma had between 12 and 13 staff members who were equipped with machinery to regularly maintain the road network, but the FRA replaced the PWD with about five to six staff.

"The roads were passable. They had machinery, they had a grader, a dump truck and a JCB (loader)," Dr Fatiaki said.

"And they maintained the roads until January last year when — and this is where our problem really begins — they essentially withdrew from the island.

"So, from January last year, they haven't had any full-time staff. They've had one or two caretakers that would look after the premises but essentially, two people with spades can't maintain the roads."

Dr Fatiaki said Flame Tree staff then came to the island to work on the airstrip, contracted by Fiji Airports, and at the time Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau also visited the island. He said Flame Tree was engaged to fix the roads and within two weeks, the roads had reverted back to normal.

"That was in September.

"We asked the ministry at that point to look at a constant maintenance program, which means you need to have people working on the road pretty much every day on a constant basis around the island.

"You can't leave it for three or six months and hope that you'll put a band aid on it."

However, Dr Fatiaki said the weather deteriorated and no work was carried out on the maintenance of the roads, thus, these were washed away during heavy rain, resulting in potholes as deep as three feet.

"Obviously, when vehicles go through, they obviously swerve into it and there's damage to parts of the smaller vehicles, and my understanding is the trucks, which transport the students, one swerved into these potholes.

"I think two of the kids in the back, either physically fell out or jumped out of the truck. I think when that happened, the drivers of the trucks decided collectively they couldn't run the risk of driving through that.

"Since last Monday, they have ceased transporting the kids. That becomes an issue because now, the kids are being punished and my understanding is that for the last two weeks, the kids that require transport to the one secondary school on the island, other than the ones who live next door to the school, are not attending school."

When approached for comment yesterday, Ro Filipe said he was aware of the issue and that a team had been dispatched with the required equipment.

"The boat was diverted because of the cyclone," he said. "So, they will be there next week."

The minister said he would meet with the Council of Rotuma chairman and Dr Fatiaki to hear out their concerns.

Education Minister Aseri Radrodro also expressed his concerns about the students missing school.

"I requested the honourable Minister for his intervention on the stand taken by transport providers due to poor road conditions," he said. "We plead with all stakeholders to understand that they play a very important role in ensuring that students attend school."