Climate Action Fiji Project #21872

Emergency Response to Mass Coral Bleaching

by Corals for Conservation

Emergency Response to Mass Coral Bleaching

Project Report | Mar 11, 2026
OCEAN HEATWAVE IMPACTS FIJI: DEEP WATER BULA SAFE

By Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby | Corals Expert & Reefs of Hope strategist

Fiji's Naidiri Nursery Impacted with 2026 Heatwave

Here's a quick update report as the situation worsens here in Fiji. Our shallow water nursery shows stress and continues to suffer as it lies in the crosshairs of the new heatwave. Our deeper, cooler water BULA genebank is a testament to the safety following Reefs of Hope procedures can provide for corals. It is your action by donating to relocate heat-resistant corals which has made the difference.

Our Corals for Conservation schooled local teams which have been hired at resorts took an intense coral workshop led by Dr. Austin and his invited guest, a coral taxonomy expert. Training the indigenous people how to continue to protect their reef ecosystem is so important. Our coral taxonomy workshop with 15 attendees lasted 6 days, and the resort provided free rooms and a free boat again! I then headed back to the farm with Dr. Douglas Fenner and an older MS student from Idaho who has been mapping the sites with a drone for his project. Next Friday Dr. Fenner and I fly to Vanuatu for a week of meetings and scoping, and when we return, it's right back to saving the corals work. A new rescue nursery at the Malolo resort site will be built--this time funded by the Cloud 9 floating restaurant out on the cooler main reef.

Even though our work has intensified as it's being pushed from climate changes which seem to be speeding up, our dedication has not faltered. International experts in the field of coral identification and habitat restoration are expressing keen interest, and even arriving in person to offer valuable first-hand help.

Expressing our gratitude, Austin

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