SUSTAINABILITY
Port Denarau Marina Partners Groups to Protect Marine Environment
In an effort to improve environmental practices in Fiji, the Port Denarau Marina in Nadi has joined hands with Oceanlovers, an Australian organisation, to work towards a common cause.
The clean marina programme has provided an important guideline for the Port Denarau Marina to take a lead role in reaching out and assisting communities through education and awareness about marine conservation. The programme was launched with a traditional sevusevu at the village kindergarten in Nawaka yesterday. Port Denarau Marina general manager Cynthia Rasch said: “Ocean conservation is a very important subject for our island nation and the only way that we will be able to raise awareness is by reaching out to the community.”
She said this would be possible if children are taught about environmental stewardship that would bode well for environmentally sound practices in the years to come. Also supporting the initiative are Champs on Wheels, an non-governmental organisation and the Mamanuca Environment Society.
Founder and director of Champs on Wheels Shabreen Nisha said: “This programme will enhance children’s learning on marine life and the true value and importance of the ocean in young minds.” Mamanuca Environment Society project manager Marica Vakacola believes that their orgasnisation can make a difference in their own locations and in the Mamanuca Islands as they continue to promote sustainable tourism and community livelihood through environment protection. Nawaka Village headman Mosese Ronakuru said: “This is a grand partnership to embark on and the best way to begin is with the future of our generation. This is an eye opener for us in the community to see that others are also concerned in our livelihoods for the future.”