Page 24 - Fiji Traveller 2024 Issue 6
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"I knew that the story of Fiji’s Shark Reef Marine Reserve
was unique and needed to be told far and wide. This little seed
eventually grew over the years into a definite plan of creating a
coffee table book with lots of easy-to-understand information."
The reserve's founder, Mike Neumann, played a pivotal role
in shaping Tom’s perspective, inspiring him to document the
reserve's unique story.
The book vividly portrays Tom’s memorable experiences in
the reserve, emphasizing the deep connection between humans
and sharks. He notes: "Just a few seconds when a bull shark
passes you in 30m depth, its eye clearly looking at you, and
you look back at it, can be such a moment." Through his lens,
Tom challenges the stereotypical portrayal of sharks as mindless
killing machines, highlighting their complex social structures and
behaviours.
As a marine biologist and photographer, Tom
discusses the delicate balance between capturing
the beauty of marine life and conveying crucial
conservation messages.
"To me, this often goes hand in hand...we cannot
have enough storytellers spreading awareness
through various mediums and formats and hopefully
get people to care about certain issues," he states.
One of the book's highlights is the win-win-win situation created
by the shark dives in the reserve, where shark protection, local
economic benefits, and community involvement are intertwined.
"The chance to share the water with these mighty predators
continues to draw thousands of tourists to Fiji year after year,
and all these visitors need hotels, restaurants, and flights - all
revenue that flows into Fiji’s economy."
Similarly, Tom discussed the unique partnership the Sanctuary
and industry has developed with nearby Galoa village: "The
village receives a dive levy from every visitor who dives in the
SRMR in exchange for not fishing in the area.
“Over the years, this partnership has resulted in the payment
of tens of thousands of Fiji dollars to the community, which can
freely decide what to do with the money," he said.
The collaboration has also led to increased fish catches and
diversity in surrounding areas, showcasing the positive spillover
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