Senior Marine Researcher for National Geographic Pristine Seas
An ongoing scientific expedition by National Geographic Pristine Seas is revealing the critical importance of local stewardship in protecting the world's most biodiverse ocean area, the Coral Triangle.
Dr. Alan Friedlander, Senior Marine Researcher for National Geographic Pristine Seas, reported the team's observations after spending a week diving around Mussau Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.
While some reefs showed degradation from the recent global marine heatwave and localised impacts, issues facing coral reefs worldwide due to climate change and overfishing, many others demonstrated remarkable resilience.
The most striking discoveries were made in areas designated as 'tambu' (traditional protected areas) by local communities.
"The tambu areas we visited had greater numbers and sizes of important fish typically eaten by communities here, highlighting the importance of local stewardship in sustaining these species," Dr. Friedlander said.
A standout example of this success is a grouper spawning aggregation site, which the Mussau community has actively protected for the past decade. This site is vital as the specific grouper species only gathers in large numbers to reproduce for a few months a year, just before the new moon, a gathering that has been overfished in many places globally.
"It is incredible to see hundreds of these large groupers aggregating in one place, with males displaying dramatic spawning colors and showing aggressive behavior towards other males," Dr. Friedlander noted. "It is so rare and special to see the ability of nature to recover, and we are so grateful to the community for their efforts to protect this remarkable place and to share it with us."
Papua New Guinea sits at the epicenter of the Coral Triangle, an area often described as the "rainforests of the ocean" due to its unmatched marine biodiversity. The expedition documented a stunning array of species in the healthy zones, including large schools of snappers, jacks, and unicornfishes, as well as grey reef sharks.
The findings offer a powerful testament to the effectiveness of blending modern science with Indigenous conservation practices. Dr. Friedlander concluded that these diverse and thriving reefs showcase the "resilience of Papua New Guinea's reefs and its people."
The data collected by the Pristine Seas expedition will be used to inform future conservation policy and support local community efforts to protect these vital underwater ecosystems.