Simon’s Nature Reserve, One Man’s Quest To Preserve Coral Diversity

Simon’s Nature Reserve

Nestled between two indistinct flagpoles within a remote Solomon Island passage is what we can only describe as one man’s quest to preserve coral diversity. A labor of love fifteen years in the making, Simon’s Nature Reserve is a true testament to the power of long term coral conservation.

As our boat approached the western shoreline of Sandfly passage, a man came paddling out in his dugout canoe. Simon reached our boat with a friendly hello and started telling us about his personal marine protected area.

Since 2004, Simon has been collecting corals around the island, and carefully manicuring his home reef. He removes predators like crown of thorns and Drupella snails, but most of all he doesn’t allow anyone to fish on his reef.

He says sometimes there are fishermen from other villages who come and poach fish, but for the most part, his little nature reserve is a garden of Eden for over 80 genera of coral, as well as a refuge for juvenile fish.

Author: Nicole Helgason

Publisher: Reef Builders

Date: September 28 2019

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