Ocean stewards’ responsibility is to the ocean – Fijian President

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Participants and stakeholders attending the inaugural Fiji Seascape Symposium that was officially opened by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere at the GPH in Suva on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Picture: ELIKI NUKUTABU

Delegates, experts and stakeholders of the Fiji Seascape Symposium were reminded yesterday that as ocean stewards, their responsibility was to the country’s greatest resource – the ocean.

Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere said their responsibility lay in learning more about the issues that plagued our waters and consolidating resources at the local, regional and global levels to execute the goals and objectives that had been set in place to address issues affecting our oceans.

As it is, Ratu Wiliame says climate change is already affecting our eco-system – from increasing global temperatures that threaten the prosperity of our ocean and the health of our coral reefs, to rising sea levels that have provoked the inward migration of once coastal villages and communities.

He said he had not only witnessed those changes but shared personal experiences with many around the country on the far-reaching impacts of inaction to the average Fijian fisher, farmer, community, business and nation.

“As we call for ambitious yet specific global action to mitigate the effects of climate change, Fiji has simultaneously called for strong and urgent ocean action.

“Our leadership role in the climate-ocean nexus transcends beyond our borders, across our Pacific seas on to other parts of the globe.

“As we move through this decade of oceans we must be uncompromising and clear – there is no climate action without ocean action.”

Ratu Wiliame said the Government was committed to working with its national partners to guide and innovate conservation and protection within Fiji’s four designated Seascapes – the Great Sea Reef or Cakaulevu, Vatu-i-Ra Seascape; Kadavu Astrolabe Reef Seascape; and the Lau Seascape.

He said Government was also committed to translate the learnings, successes and best practices to support conservation action across Fiji’s entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

He added the three-day symposium would review the efforts and the impact on the execution of Fiji’s commitment to the UN Oceans Conference (UNOC); and review Fiji’s efforts to date, and define Fiji’s progress towards the achievement of the long-term marine reserve and conservation priorities.

The symposium continues today.

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