Posted on May, 07 2025

08 May 2025 | Suva, Fiji  – WWF-Pacific, through its Fiji Office Turtle Project and the global ShellBank project, successfully hosted a two-day workshop in Suva this week to build national capacity in marine turtle conservation and law enforcement through DNA traceability. The workshop took place on 6–7 May at the Suva Business Centre and the University of the South Pacific (USP) Lower Campus.

Facilitated by WWF-Fiji’s Interim Conservation Programme Lead, Duncan Williams, and the Turtle Project team, the workshop was led by ShellBank Co-Founders Dr. Christine Madden, WWF’s Global Marine Turtle Conservation Lead, and Dr. Michael Jensen, ShellBank’s Chief Scientist. Participants included representatives from key government ministries, enforcement agencies, research institutions, and civil society.

The training introduced ShellBank, the world’s first global traceability toolkit and DNA database of marine turtles. To date, more than 15,000 samples from over 50 countries have been added to ShellBank, enabling law enforcement and researchers to better understand marine turtle populations at risk and those that require greater protection.

Fiji’s marine turtles are under growing threat from habitat loss, bycatch, and from illegal take and trade. The ShellBank system offers a breakthrough approach to tracing and protecting turtle populations using DNA analysis—from turtles or their parts in nesting sites and foraging grounds, those caught in bycatch, illegal take or trade and more. The workshop focused on building technical skills in DNA sample collection, species identification, evidential handling, laboratory analysis, and using data analysis to support research and law enforcement.

“ShellBank is not only a scientific tool, it is a bridge between conservation and enforcement,” said Dr. Christine Madden, WWF’s Global Marine Turtle Conservation Lead and ShellBank Co-Founder. “This workshop has laid the foundation for Fiji to apply DNA evidence in real world scenarios, whether it’s identifying nesting populations, those impacted by overexploitation and bycatch, or investigating illegal turtle trade. It’s an exciting step forward for marine turtle protection in Fiji and the Pacific region,” Madden added.

Dr. Michael Jensen, ShellBank chief scientist and Co-Founder, added, “This training has shown the strong commitment from Fiji’s institutions to adopt cutting-edge methods to safeguard turtles. By equipping national stakeholders with both the science and practical tools, we are helping ensure that the protection of these species is grounded in data driven science and supported by collaboration.”

The workshop featured hands-on exercises and field-based scenarios to simulate DNA sample collection for both conservation and law enforcement contexts. The final day included a lab session at USP, where participants applied their learning in data analysis and discussed a way forward for ShellBank in Fiji.

“This training has provided our stakeholders with the tools and confidence to integrate DNA-based evidence into their marine turtle conservation and enforcement work,” said Duncan Williams, WWF-Fiji’s Interim Conservation Programme Lead.

Participants described the workshop as timely and practical.

“The training has been eye-opening from a law enforcement perspective. We've learnt how to acquire DNA samples from turtles. On a regular basis, we deal with police human interactions in connection to crimes, but this training has expanded our knowledge of animal safety and security. A threat to animals is a threat to food security, which could lead to more criminal activity. The training has also encouraged us to be serious in carrying out our duty as police officers as required under the Fisheries Act of Fiji and the Endangered Species Act of Fiji.,” said Inspector Selai Raramasi, Investigation, Intelligence  and Prosecution Training, Fiji Police Force.

“It’s our first training and there is a need for more training as such on tissue sampling to assist in our ongoing efforts to conserve these marine migratory species that come to Fiji,” added Joseva Raqitawa, Fisheries Research Assistant Officer, Fiji Ministry of Fisheries.

Participants that were represented at the workshop were from the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Fiji Police Force, Ika Bula Consultants, Vatuvara Foundation Fiji, Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, and the University of the South Pacific.

The ShellBank workshop was supported by the broader WWF network that includes WWF’s Coral Triangle Programme, WWF-UK and WWF-US with partnership support from the Royal Caribbean Foundation.

It marks a significant step in aligning Fiji’s marine turtle conservation efforts with global best practices and advancing a People and Nature Positive Pacific.

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Notes to Editors
Media Contact:
Ravai Vafo’ou
Pacific Communications Coordinator, WWF-Pacific
+679 998 7430 | rvafoou@wwfpacific.org

About WWF-Pacific
WWF-Pacific is part of the global WWF network, one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. Operating across Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, WWF-Pacific works in partnership with communities, governments, and stakeholders to build a future where people live in harmony with nature. Our work spans marine and terrestrial conservation, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and biodiversity protection, with a strong focus on community-led and culturally grounded approaches. Through our collective efforts, we strive to achieve a People and Nature Positive Pacific. For more information, visit www.wwfpacific.org

About ShellBank
ShellBank is led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in partnership with the Australian Museum - Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics, NOAA - Southwest Fisheries Science Center, and TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network. By bringing together multiple organisations, countries and communities to develop a global marine turtle DNA database, ShellBank provides a toolkit of operating procedures, capacity building and training