Healthy coral reefs are more than environmental assets in Fiji; they are economic lifelines for thousands of families. People, the environment and cultural heritage are deeply interconnected, but the changing climate, overfishing, coastal development and pollution are putting pressure on reefs that support food security, tourism, fisheries and local economies.
The stakes are particularly high for people living in poverty. According to the Asian Development Bank, 29.9% of Fiji’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2019. For low-income coastal households, a decline in reef health can mean fewer fish to catch, less income from fishing and tourism, greater exposure to storms and coastal erosion. These households often have fewer financial resources and fewer alternative livelihoods to fall back on when marine resources decline.
