We Need to Protect Our Ocean
As the challenges to our Oceans continue to grow, so does the need for innovative solutions and the people driving them as everyone has an integral part to play.
On Monday June 8, World Oceans Day was celebrated across the globe and the Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau said that there are multiple reasons we celebrate World Oceans Day.
“This year, the theme is ‘Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean’. Its significance cannot be stressed enough as the oceans are the lungs of our planet, providing for 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe,” Mr Koroilavesau said.
“The ocean is part of our life and is woven into our tradition and culture. Over the decades, the ocean has provided us with basic necessities contributing to improved livelihood and economic progress,” he stressed.
Battling challenges
He added that we need to be proactive now more than ever as we collectively battle the growing challenges of depleting fish stocks, over-exploitation, loss of marine habitat, marine pollution, changes to sea surface temperatures and climate change.
“These are immediate challenges that need collaboration for immediate action.
“I must remind us all of the World Oceans Day message that was announced by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Honourable Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, on Monday, this week and that is our united efforts in protecting our oceans as we all have a role to play.”
Therefore, the Ministry is in the following areas:
Finalising Fiji’s commitment on achieving 30 per cent protection and 100 per cent management of Fiji’s Fisheries waters by 2030;
Planting of One Million Corals to boost coral reef biodiversity by 2023, with the view towards increasing the volume thereafter; and Empowering all Fijians as ocean citizens to play their part in helping Fiji to be free from Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. committed
“In Fiji’s context, the current global pandemic has reminded us of the importance of protecting our ocean.
“As we face current threats and anticipate imminent challenges, we need to be reminded of our actions and how it contributes to our survival. Making wise decisions on how much ocean resources we exploit for subsistence and economic prospects will ensure that there is always enough to share and benefit from in the future.”
“As the Minister for Fisheries, I am determined to work with all Fijians to ensure a safe ocean environment.
“An environment that is built on consensus and underpins Fiji’s strategies under the Ocean Pathway where there are appropriate mitigation and adaptation actions for all ocean users.”
Consider the future
Mr Koroilavesau hopes that coastal communities will utilise the ocean’s resources with much consideration for the future.
“There are certain bans in place which we hope will be respected by all as we see the need to protect these ocean species.
“The bans were introduced for a reason as advised by science and data. These species play an integral part in our oceans so let us protect them.”
Recent data collected by fisheries officials reveal that there are more than 200 fin fish species in Fiji waters and it is important that they grow in a healthy habitat.
“For commercially driven entities, let us be reminded of our actions and how it affects the survival of ocean resources.
“To our partners, the time to collaborate is now! Our shared efforts will ensure the protection of the ocean, its resources and the lives of all Fijians, now and into the future,” Mr Koroilavesau added.
With the ongoing issues related to water bodies such as plastic waste, decreasing level of water, impurities in water and others, it is the utmost necessity to preserve and conserve our oceans.
More than half the people on Earth live within 193 kilometres of the ocean, but even those who live nowhere near the sea are dependent on the massive saltwater ecosystem that covers nearly threefourths of our planet.
Scientists warn that the sea is changing rapidly and that our many uses of its bounty must be managed far more sustainably.
Let us be responsible and have a deep sense of care and responsibility for our oceans because we owe them that.
The bans were introduced for a reason as advised by science and data. These species play an integral part in our oceans so let us protect them. Semi Koroilavesau Minister for Fisheries