A THREE-year initiative to restore, restock and rehabilitate Fiji's reef ecosystems will be mandated by the Fisheries Department as part of its annual program.
Fisheries technical officer and conservator Margaret Vakalalabure made the comment yesterday following the launch of the Fisheries Department's Reef Enrichment Initiative program at Nukuvuto Grounds at Queen Victoria School in Tailevu.
The initiative, which is an extension of the Forests Department's Plant A Million Trees campaign, aims to reverse the damage and depletion to marine ecology which was spurred by rural urban drift, increase in population, increase in demand and, economic pressure on the use of fisheries resources.
The program was launched by Minister for Youth and Sport Commander Viliame Naupoto.