A Marine Protected Area (MPA, or the Tavarua Island Marine Reserve) is an ocean region designated for long-term conservation, safeguarding intertidal or subtidal zones along with their water, flora, fauna, and cultural features through legal or effective measures. MPAs are essential for conserving marine biodiversity, supporting ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, and promoting sustainable uses such aseco-tourism, while restricting harmful activities like overfishing, crowding, anchoring or similar human activities. They help mitigate climate change by protecting coastal habitats that reduce human vulnerability to storms and enable species to adapt to environmental shifts, ensuring healthier oceans for future generations, especially with our Giant Clams, a Keystone species for this environment.
As the guardians of the marine reserve, the Tavarua team has dedicated staff and support teams who continue to work tirelessly to protect the ecosystem while ensuring everyone continues to have free access to this world wonder. Please support our efforts by following our guidelines, adhereing to requests from our dedicated snorkeling/clam guides and using this booking to limit the stress on our ecosystem.
To facilitate protection, the Tavarua team are required to support enforcement as honorary fish wardens, educating visitors on reef-safe practices, regulating snorkeling visits (e.g., one boat with up to six snorkelers at a time, no low-tide trips), and reporting non-compliance to the Ministry. This collaborative approach ensures the reserve's conservation goals are met while allowing regulated eco-tourism, benefiting local qoliqoli owners and communities through sustainable practices. Please help us protect this incredible ecosystem for generations to come.
