The competing effects of the long-range fluctuation, which has been found on the Large Helical Device (Inagaki et al 2011 Phys. Rev. Lett.107 115001), on the net turbulent transport are discussed. The transport, which is driven directly by this mode, is evaluated. Then, the associated reduction of fluctuations in the range of drift wave turbulence is analyzed, by employing the predator–prey model. The transport driven by microscopic turbulence is reduced by the appearance of long-range fluctuations. Comparing these two competing processes, the condition is derived for the net transport to be reduced by the appearance of this long-range fluctuation. In addition, the experimental observations of microscopic fluctuations are discussed. The reduction of high-frequency fluctuations occurs in conjunction with the long-range fluctuations.