Fiji has committed to protecting 30 percent of our Exclusive Economic Zone by 2030.
This was highlighted by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Oceania Regional Office’s Fiji Marine Project Officer Alisi Rabukawaqa during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.
Rabukawaqa says they try and help the government achieve their priorities, targets, and commitments and one of the primary focuses of their work is to help Fiji identify the best place to protect our oceans while also considering the uses.
She says it is a very simple explanation but there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes even for the past 10 years.
Protected and Conserved Areas Coordinator Rahul Chand says the 30 percent is a figure that they are working on but it is good to protect more.
Chand says the reason behind this is because Fiji is a small island nation but we have to see that we are surrounded by oceans and if we consider the entire Pacific, it has got huge ocean space and that is the identity of the people.
He says we depend on our proteins, our food source, and our livelihoods are dependent on the ocean, so as much as we can protect it, it does not mean that we completely have no take from the ocean but we can still use it sustainably.
He adds the phrase “sustainable practice” is something that is important for us to consider.
You can watch the full video below:
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