Experts are raising alarms about the significant threats facing Fiji’s fisheries and tourism sectors, as well as the livelihoods dependent on its reefs, due to unusually warm ocean conditions coinciding with an active cyclone season. Dr. Moleni Tu’uholoaki, Ocean Science Officer at the Pacific Community, highlighted that while higher sea temperatures do not automatically lead to an increase in tropical cyclones, they can cause these storms to intensify rapidly.
Dr. Tu’uholoaki explained that marine heatwaves add extra heat and moisture to the atmosphere, prompting cyclones to strengthen quickly—sometimes escalating from a lower category to a major storm in just one day. “The marine heatwave provides surplus heat and moisture to the atmosphere, which will result in an intensifying tropical cyclone very quickly. We are beginning to observe this type of tropical cyclone,” he noted.
Adding to the concern, Dr. Grant Smith, an oceanographer with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, warned that reefs are particularly vulnerable during February and March due to marine heatwaves. Current predictions suggest that the alert level for coral bleaching could rise to level 2 in the next four to eight weeks, a stage where coral mortality may begin to appear.
Dr. Smith also pointed out the potential for fish kills, recalling significant fish mortality events, like those seen along Fiji’s coastlines in February 2016, which resulted from intense marine heatwave conditions. This phenomenon occurs as warmer waters can hold less oxygen, critical for fish survival.
In light of these developments, experts are calling for improved early warning systems, heightened public awareness, and enhanced preparedness planning. Such proactive measures are essential to support communities and industries that depend on the health of Fiji’s marine ecosystems in the face of extreme weather and marine heat impacts.
While the situation poses serious challenges, the emphasis on community preparedness and awareness provides a hopeful path forward for mitigating the impacts and ensuring the resilience of these vital sectors.
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