Nagigi village, located along Savusavu Bay on Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island, is facing dire straits. Climate change and the overfishing of fish stocks have had a devastating impact on the community. With a population of only 630, the people who call this small town home have just recently watched as dangerous changes happened right in their backyard. Sea intrusion into plantations and increased flooding on land have become common occurrences, prompting the community to seek innovative adaptation strategies.
In 2016, Tropical Cyclone Winston ripped through communities, wiping out entire homes and communities. This annihilation compelled many of the surviving residents to move farther inland to avoid future threats. The village relocated to traditional mataqali land, descendants of their clan. It was this conscious decision they took to protect and preserve their home and community. This unfortunate relocation has in turn shone a light on the villagers’ resistance against loss of homes and livelihood.
The case of the Bia-I-Cake Women’s Cooperative in Nagigi village highlights how a community addressed the pressing challenge of dwindling fish stocks and rising food insecurity. They implemented a pilot aquaculture project to raise tilapia and carp. This project provides the community with a delicious and creative new source of alternative protein. It opens up new paths to employment for community members, particularly women, who are truly demonstrating incredible leadership in these initiatives to climate-proof communities.
The ocean plays a central role in the identity of the Nagigi village and is an important life source for the villagers. Declining fish stocks have placed tremendous strain on this long-held vocation. The aquaculture project represents a proactive approach to cope with these changes while promoting sustainable practices that can support the community’s needs.
Group discussions and interviews conducted in Nagigi village in 2021 and 2023 revealed that residents are taking significant steps to adapt to the ongoing effects of climate change. As their experiences remind us, community engagement and deep collective action are essential to overcoming the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The women in the Bia-I-Cake settlement, which is inhabited by 60 residents, are at the forefront of these efforts. It is the resolve of their spirit that inspires them to fight for a future where their children and families can thrive.
As adaptation efforts scale up across the Pacific, recognizing and supporting the initiatives undertaken by communities like Nagigi village is crucial. The residents show extraordinary resilience and ingenuity. Together, their actions are an example for all, demonstrating how to face the challenges presented by climate change head on. As Nagigi village is discovering, there are new ways to adapt. This has not only helped protect its unique cultural heritage but promoted collaboration and lasting environmental practices, serving as a model for other communities struggling to navigate these realizations.
