Vorovoro Island lies in Macuata Province in the north of Vanua Levu. The reefs around the island are among the sites where Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries is reintroducing giant clams of the species Tridacna maxima. The results of a recent monitoring mission are remarkable: the seeded juveniles have a survival rate of 100 percent and have grown to three to four times their original size.
Research officer Onisimo Tubuna explained that the ideal biological conditions and a healthy coral ecosystem at the site were key to the success. Vorovoro, he said, is a leading example of effective marine conservation and long-term sustainability.
The team also examined the reefs at Galoa in Bua Province, where clams were seeded more than a year ago. There, the survival rate stands at 63 percent, and the remaining animals show strong growth. Researchers also noted a healthy natural population of Tridacna crocea, reinforcing the site’s ecological suitability for reef restoration.
Giant clams play a special role in the reef. They filter water, store nutrients and provide habitat for other organisms. In Fiji, several species were considered severely endangered for decades, harvested for meat, shells and the aquarium trade. Since the 1980s, the country has run breeding programs on Makogai Island.
What can be seen in Vorovoro shows that patience and care pay off. The reefs are recovering, piece by piece.
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