A CHIEF in Nukapu in Temotu Province, Henry Laki is taking a bold step to protect Nukapu’s coral reefs after witnessing declining fish catches.
Laki introduced a tabu for no fishing to take place in the reefs for the last three years.
As a result of the tabu, the reef started to attract more fish.
The National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition team members paid a visit to him and witnessed the impact of the tabu.
Marine Ecologist and the Lead Scientist of the expedition, Dr Molly Timmers presented this discovery during the occasion to celebrate the closing of the expedition at Heritage Park Hotel on Monday.
She said this is an example of the rotational tabus.
“He found out there weren’t any fish and so he wanted to take a stand and try to make a change.
“And what we found diving around his island was amazing,” Dr Timmers said.
Dr Timmers said the reefs were pristine.
“We thought we were somewhere where there were no people. It was just beautiful.
“We saw turtles frequently while we were diving along our transects,” she said.
Dr Timmers said they saw school of parrot fish.
She added they saw family groups of Napoleon wrasse.
“We didn’t see that anywhere else. We saw occasionally one or two, but we saw family groups.
Apart from Nukapu, the team did expedition with cameras in the oceans of Marau, Three Sisters islands in Makira-Ulawa Province and Sunken island, Lata, Tinakula, Reef islands, Nukapu and Duff Islands in Temotu Province.
Dr Timmers said they found that some of the corals were affected by overfishing and cyanobacteria caused by logging and faeces and climate change.
She said the action taken by Chief Laki is one way to restore the coral reefs for future generations to enjoy.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
