Fiji Shark Lab

26/08/2026

🦈 From learning to action. 💙

Such a fantastic morning with the students from International School Suva, diving into the world of Fiji’s sharks and rays — their biology, importance to healthy ocean ecosystems, threats they face, and the work being done to protect them. 🌊

And this is only the beginning.

In the coming weeks, these young ocean advocates will be putting what they learned into action by fundraising in support of Fiji Shark Lab’s shark and ray research and conservation work here in Fiji. 🇫🇯🦈

Conservation isn’t only about protecting wildlife today — it’s about giving the next generation the knowledge, curiosity and opportunity to become part of protecting it tomorrow.

A huge vinaka vakalevu to the students and teachers at International School Suva for inviting Fiji Shark Lab to share our work and for choosing to support shark and ray conservation.

Learn. Connect. Protect. 🌊🦈

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

| 🎣 Friendly reminder to all our fishing communities and ocean lovers!

We’re officially into the third month of the seasonal ban on Kawakawa and Donu (Grouper and Coral Trout).

Running from 1 June to 30 September, this national closure protects these vital reef fish during their peak breeding season. Under Regulation 4 of the Offshore Fisheries Management Regulation, breaking these rules is a legal offense. This is widely recognized as one of Fiji’s most successful fisheries management success stories, giving our fish the crucial time they need to spawn, recover, and multiply. 🌊

Let’s keep the momentum rolling! By respecting the ban and spreading the word, we are actively safeguarding our marine resources and securing a sustainable future for Fiji's fisheries.

Do your part - let them breed! 🐟💪

29/06/2026

The future of shark conservation starts with education 🦈🌏

Over the past two weeks, Fiji Shark Lab has had the privilege of hosting two incredible groups of international students. First Think Pacific volunteers, then BroadReach students from the US.

We explored biology, behaviour and conservation challenges for sharks and rays, and why Fiji is an important place to study and protect them.

Every student and every participant who leaves our workshops with a new perspective or appreciation for sharks and rays becomes another voice advocating for our oceans.

Vinaka Vakalevu to everyone who joined us. 🙏🏽🇫🇯🦈

25/06/2026

Our research into the social lives of Bull sharks 🦈

🔗 to paper is here https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123511

SHOCKING DISCOVERY : Sharks Have BEST FRIENDS... And They Actually Swim Together!

For decades, sharks have been portrayed as cold-blooded loners lurking in the ocean. But scientists just uncovered something that completely changes the way we see them.

Researchers studying 184 bull sharks in Fiji over six years discovered that sharks don't just randomly swim around together, they form lasting social bonds with specific individuals.

In other words...

▪️ Sharks have favorite companions.
▪️ Sharks choose who they spend time with.
▪️ Sharks actively avoid certain sharks they
don't like.

Scientists repeatedly observed the same sharks swimming side-by-side, following one another, and maintaining close relationships over long periods.

Some sharks even appeared to take turns leading each other through the water!

Lead researcher Natasha Marosi says these relationships are surprisingly similar to human social behavior. Just like people have close friends, acquaintances, and individuals they avoid, bull sharks seem to do the same.

This discovery challenges one of the biggest myths about sharks : that they're solitary killing machines with no social lives.

Instead, these incredible predators may have complex friendships, social networks, and preferred companions beneath the waves.

So the next time you picture a shark...

Don't imagine a lonely monster.

Imagine a giant ocean predator hanging out with its best friend.

11/06/2026

Meet young male bull shark Leka, born with a stunted caudal fin, his name means ‘dwarf’ in Fijian as he is undersized for his age.

Meet female Sicklefin lemon shark Snowflakes, she was caught by a fisherman who proceeded to cut off part of her caudal fin before letting her go to ‘teach her a lesson’.

Two very different experiences with the same consequence, it takes more energy to move and maneuver with half a caudal fin, and you aren’t quite as fast and as agile as you may need to be in order to survive.

Despite their hardships these two sharks have taught us the meaning of perseverance and resilience.

Both Leka and Snowflakes are up for adoption to support our research and conservation efforts in Fiji. Just click the 🔗 in our bio.

25/04/2026

Fiji Bull Shark Fun Facts 🦈🦈🦈

20/04/2026

These last few weeks we have seen 🪸 bleaching off the southern coast of Viti Levu, Fiji.

Heat stress is causing corals and anemones to expel the algae that provide them with energy, leaving them pale and weakened. 😢

If stressful conditions persist, mortality can follow. Fiji has very resilient corals and so we hope as the water cools we will see the colonies rebound.

15/04/2026

Shark Fun Fact: Only younger female grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) are resident to the Shark Reef Marine Reserve.

Older females and males are transient and will move from one coastal reef habitat to the next.

These two are pregnant, we have been following their gestation from the first sets of mating scars. 😊

14/04/2026

Adoptable Bull Shark ‘Taryn’ 🦈

Taryn has been visiting the Shark Reef Marine Reserve since 2014. She can be identified by her left pectoral fin which is cut in half.

We have documented her physical growth, her skill and personality development, pregnancies and her circle of friends for the last 12 years. 🙌🏾

Adopt Taryn and we will share her shark secrets with you. 💙 🔗 in bio

All proceeds go directly towards shark conservation and research projects here in Fiji 🇫🇯