PM’s wife calls for action on policy, conservation
Mary
Bainimarama, the wife of Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe, has used the Fukushima tsunami of 2011 to call for global action and policy on ocean conservation. Speaking at the Ocean for the Future Symposium in Iwaki, Japan, Mrs Bainimarama said the tsunami was an example “of the wrath of the ocean on coastal communities, whether small islands or large nations”.
The wife of Japan’s Prime Minister, Akie Abe, accompanied Mrs Bainimarama at the symposium. Mrs Bainimarama’s comments came as Japan’s leader, Shinzo Abe, was stressing the need for ridding the ocean of plastics at the 8th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Summit. (PALM8)
Mrs Bainimarama spoke about the need for establishing marineprotected areas.
“In 1997 the residents of Ucunivanua Village, on the eastern coast of Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island, launched the first Local Managed Marine Area in Fiji,” Mrs Bainima rama said.
“They declared a no-harvest/nofishing zone over a 24-hectare site of mudflats and seagrass in front of the village. Their aim was to let their traditional food sources (Kaikoso clams) recover and they succeeded.
“The initial three-year ban led to an abundance of clams and made a direct contribution to the income of the people of the village.” Goal 14 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals emphasises the need to save “life below water”.
According to the UN, in 2017 protected areas covered 13.2 per cent of the marine environment.
It warns that more than 30 per cent of the world’s fish stocks are being overexploited, which is below the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.
Mrs Bainimarama said: “I hope to see more relevant action from our Pacific partnership with Japan – we can be world leaders in addressing ocean change – together. “Let us continue to bring our young people together on these issues. Let us work together with technology and security to ensure that we manage our shared fisheries in the ocean.”