Shark Trivia

Did You Know that Dakuwaqa (Dakuwanga) is a shark-god….

.….in Fijian mythology? Legend has it that the ancient shark-god provides protection from any danger for fishermen when at sea.

Dakuwaqa was once going inland to conquer Kadavu Island through the river when another goddess, in the form of an octopus, challenged him. The octopus won the battle forcing Dakuwaqa to promise to never attack Kadavu again. That is how Dakuwaqa became the god and protector of Kadavu. Dakuwaqa can also change shape into anything, but his real form is that of a muscular Fijian man with the upper torso of a shark.

The Fijian culture and mythology has long shown reverence to sharks by many Fijians but with much of Fiji’s shark species threatened with extinction, even Dakuwaqa now urgently needs the help of the Fijian people.

Shark and ray ecotourism is a major contributor to the Fijian economy but overfishing and loss of critical habitats is also identified as a major contributors to unsustainable mortality of sharks and rays. Better legislation and more conservation efforts are needed.