The Fiji Times

Maritime sector urged to save the ocean

- By WATA SHAW By WATA SHAW wshaw@fijitimes.com.fj

ON World Ocean Day, everyone must recognise that revitalisi­ng the ocean is critical for the planet.

That was the message from Internatio­nal Maritime Organisati­on secretary-general Kitack Lim statement on June 8, 2022.

“The ocean connects, sustains, and supports us all. Shipping is one of the prime users of the oceans delivering over 80 per cent of world trade and linking global supply chains,” Mr Lim said.

The Internatio­nal Maritime Organisati­on has developed a comprehens­ive regulatory regime to ensure the marine environmen­t is protected from shipping activities. Among

SHIPPING and other maritime-based industries are prime users of the oceans, delivering over 80 per cent of world trade and linking global supply chains.

This is why they have a huge role to play in ensuring that the marine environmen­t is protected from shipping activities.

With this in mind, the Maritime Safety other initiative­s, we are working together with countries and partners on local actions that can serve as models and wider inspiratio­n to keep protecting the ocean.

On World Ocean Day, we must all recognize that revitalisi­ng the ocean is critical for the planet,” IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim said.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said achieving the Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change, urgently needed “collective action to revitalise the ocean”.

“That means finding a new balance in our relationsh­ip with the marine environmen­t. It means working together with nature, not against it, and building inclusive and diverse partnershi­ps across regions, sectors and communitie­s to collaborat­e creatively on ocean solutions,” Mr Guterres said.

“Ensuring a healthy and productive ocean is our collective responsibi­lity, which we can only fulfil by working together. On this World Oceans Day, I urge all those with a stake in ocean health to come together to revitalise our seas and oceans.”

The IMO is the UN specialise­d agency with the responsibi­lity for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheri­c pollution by ships.

It is global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmen­tal performanc­e of internatio­nal shipping with a main role to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universall­y adopted and universall­y implemente­d.

 ?? Picture: SUPPLIED/RFNS ?? Protecting Fiji’s EEZ contribute­s to protecting the health of the ocean. RFNS Savenaca and HMAS Ararat return from EEZ patrols.
Picture: SUPPLIED/RFNS Protecting Fiji’s EEZ contribute­s to protecting the health of the ocean. RFNS Savenaca and HMAS Ararat return from EEZ patrols.

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