When he realised there was a need to help his island of Naqelelevu, journalist Mika Loga left his job and his comfortable city life for his far-flung island home.

Mr Loga had decided to step in after he had heard news of poaching, and other pressing issues on the island that needed to be addressed.

“One of the main reasons why I returned here was to help make the population on the island, to be the driver of development and to help protect the island from poachers,” Mr Loga said.

Naqelelevu Island is located southwest of Cikobia which is the Northeastern most islands in Vanua Levu

“There has been a problem of poaching on the island and I have chased them a number of times from here ever since I returned,” Mr Loga said.

“They are given the licence to fish only for particular species of fish but they use up all the other resources like sea cucumbers and many more.

“You know we are trying to generate income on the island but they are using it without our knowledge and without a licence.”

Mr Loga said the poachers have also been capturing coconut crab on land which his family relied on for income.

He said the difference with the poachers was that they used up the resources without the consideration of maintaining it.

“We have been assured by the Government team that they would go back and relook at the system,” Mr Loga said.

“These poachers are alleged to have been circumventing the system. At the end of the day, we the people on the island would feel the brunt of it all.

“The use of Underwater Breathing Apparatus and other kinds of fishing methods detrimental to the marine ecosystem by poachers which we draw our income from would be drained.

“While we are gaining economically here on the island, we are also trying to conserve and preserve the condition of the environment.”

Mr Loga said he needed to be the protector of his island home which used to be left vacant for long periods of time.

“Even though there have been challenges, it is one of the choices I have never looked back on,” Mr Loga said.

There are only 10 people on Naqelelevu Island.