Ocean woes defy pacts

Despite there being several ocean conventions, treaties and agreements, we are still seeing the deterioration of our oceans and ocean resources.

This, according to Blue Prosperity Fiji co-science expedition primary investigator Dr Joeli Veitayaki.

He highlighted this during a panel discussion at the Korea International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries in Busan, South Korea, on Tuesday.

“This includes over fishing, pollution and now climate change is added on to that list,” he said.

“We have a lot to do and we need to admit that now is the time for us to take action as individuals, members of organisations, countries and hopefully as the region that is served by the Pacific.”

Dr Joeli asked why was it that the Pacific focused more on aquaculture than mariculture despite having more sea than land.

“We need to harness the outcomes of that focused attention in ensuring that we use the ocean resources better and that we also do it to the sustainability of those resources that we are using.

“Korea can share with us some potential areas of work in that area.

“If we are really to better with the ocean then we must understand how it works and how it affects us in order to make good decisions for ourselves today and for our children in the future.”