Blue Lagoon Beach Resort is located on the breathtaking Nacula Island – a hidden gem in Fiji's Yasawa Island Chain. In 2022, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort became the inaugural partner of Counting Coral and the site of the world’s first Sculptural Coral Gene bank. Submerged 15 feet underwater and spanning 60 feet across, this stunning living art piece nurtures over 370 corals, safeguarding the future of the island and community's coral reefs.
Blue Lagoon Beach Resort, Counting Coral, and Nacula Village came together to take actionable steps toward a better future for Fiji's reefs. Dedicated volunteers gathered in July of 2022 to install the sculptural coral bank, where rare and resilient corals from eight neighboring reefs were planted. The sculptural coral bank consists of a large engraved centerpiece, eight end-piece sculptures, and 120 flower structures — all created from marine-grade stainless steel to form a 60-foot circular park. Each limb of the sculptural park is planted with coral from a different neighboring reef, eight in total.
Preserves critical biodiversity: The Gene Bank safeguards the genetic diversity of Nacula Island’s coral reefs, protecting them from a future of monoculture and potential collapse.
Continuous coral cultivation: Operating like a living conveyor belt, the Gene Bank enables ongoing propagation and replanting through secondary nurseries and targeted out-planting methods.
A unique conservation experience: This underwater living artwork captivates visitors at Blue Lagoon, encourages participation in coral restoration, and serves as a meaningful engagement and marketing tool for the resort.
Supports marine ecosystems: By acting as an artificial reef, the Gene Bank creates new habitats for marine life, relieves pressure on natural reefs, and provides a foundation for future reef growth.
Drives local impact: The Gene Bank generates employment, educates the community, and fosters local stewardship of marine resources.
Advances marine protection: Counting Coral’s Gene Bank and work at Nacula led to the creation of a Marine Protected Area at Blue Lagoon, including the Gene Bank, marking a major step forward for regional marine conservation.
“I’ve been going to Fiji for as long as I can remember. Since my twenties, I’ve been backpacking, surfing, filming waves, and its where I fell in love with coral. I was exploring the Yasawas and Nacula Island before there were even resorts, taking fuel boats up the islands, camping on the beaches, no one in sight, and snorkeling on the same reefs that are still there today. Over the years, I’ve watched Fiji change. I’ve seen reefs die, come back, and sometimes not come back at all. Nacula has always been my first love - it’s a place that’s really special to me. I have friends in the village I’ve known for over thirty years. I’ve seen resorts built, managers come and go, and I knew that when Counting Coral got going, Nacula would be the first place we’d start. And that’s exactly what we did. Now it’s about keeping at it—growing more coral, protecting these reefs, and doing everything we can to preserve this beautiful place."
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Blue Lagoon urgently needs Phase 2 of this project: the installation of our Secondary Coral Nurseries. These nursery tables are a critical component of the restoration process. They provide the controlled conditions needed for fragmented corals to grow, stabilize, and develop sufficient tissue and skeletal structure before out-planting to the reef. Without this intermediate nursery phase, the restoration cycle cannot progress.
Get your own plaque — help fund Blue Lagoon’s next step in restoration!
We’re currently fundraising for our Secondary Nurseries, and you can be part of advancing the next phase of restoration at Blue Lagoon. Our goal is to have the new systems installed and functioning by 2026. Each full nursery installation costs $25,000 USD, covering marine-grade stainless-steel materials, fabrication, international shipping to Fiji, and travel for certified installers and divers. This material choice is the safest and longest-lasting for reef environments, ensuring stability and performance for centuries underwater.
