I am back in Auki now after seeing something very troubling near Vangunu Island. As a Fisheries Observer, I have seen many things at sea, but seeing hundreds of dead fish washed up near the Dokoso Conservation Area is different. It is personal when it happens in our own waters.

Local people are worried. They follow the rules and close the reefs to let the fish grow, but now the fish are just dying on the sand. Some say it is the El Niño making the water too hot or drying up the reefs. Others are not sure.

We need the Government to send people to test the water properly. It is not enough to just talk about climate change on the news. Our families depend on these fish for food and money. If we lose the conservation areas, we lose our future. I like to take photos of our reefs, but today I only took photos of the damage. We must be practical and protect what is left before it is too late.