July 2026: Fieldwork in Moturiki, Fiji

As part of her postdoctoral research in SOCPacific2R, Dr. Salanieta Kitolelei conducted a week-long fieldwork in Moturiki with the late Mr. Lekesio Katudrau, Mr. Solomone Qilatabu (Provincial Conservation Officer) and Dr. Jokim Kitolelei (SOCPacific2R USP team).

The fieldwork engaged a transdisciplinary approach which included interviews, questionnaire-guided group discussions, and deployment of baited remote underwater videos (BRUVs) at three reef passages. In addition to the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) done in two villages followed by in-depth interviews, the team conducted informal talanoa session with youth divers from Moturiki. On the last day, the team set out to assist in marking a tabu area near one of the oldest culturally protected water bodies of the island at Menawai Passage.