AQUA-TREK, FIJI AND USA

Finalist Conservation Award 2007

Aqua-Trek is committed to protecting sharks and creating a model for conservation and sustainable tourism that can be applied around the world.
Over-fishing of sharks is a global problem which cannot be solved by solely outlawing the destructive practices. There is a crucial need to replace the lost income with a sustainable option. In Fiji, tourism has been the answer and Aqua-Trek's Shark Dive offers a unique tourist attraction with increasing worldwide recognition.
Aqua-Trek's Fiji Shark Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Programme encompasses several interlinked aspects that have been instrumental in the conservation of sharks on a local and global level. The programme aims to educate people about the importance of protecting this threatened marine species whose role is vital to our ecosystem.
In addition to conservation and education, the project provides income to local villages; preserves the cultural heritage of the indigenous people; provides Fiji with a successful sustainable tourism enterprise; and creates an unparalleled opportunity to study sharks in their natural environment.
Aqua-Trek's programme embraces the community as an agency in the management of its natural resources and allows them to realize the sustainable economic benefit. Conserving sharks has now become a common goal for both Aqua-Trek and the community.