The National Geographic Pristine Seas (NGPS) team is conducting research in Fiji’s Kadavu region, focusing on the Great Astrolabe Reef, one of the world’s largest barrier reefs and a critical site for marine biodiversity.
The expedition is the latest in a series of Pristine Seas missions across the Pacific. Over the past two months, the team has completed research in Tuvalu and Rotuma, gathering deep sea biodiversity data, mapping coral ecosystems, and working with local communities to support marine protection policies.
Kelly Moore, the expedition lead, says they are exploring previously unstudied areas of Kadavu while working closely with Fijian communities. She says they cannot determine the overall health of the reef until their final analysis at the end of the expedition.
