Celebration of World Ocean Day must pursue solutions to promote sustainability and traditional knowledge - Nata

While we celebrate World Ocean Day around the globe today, we must pursue solutions that will encourage or promote marine sustainability in the Pacific.

Watisoni Nata, a student of the University of the Pacific who is pursuing a program in Social Science and a Bachelor of Arts, highlighted this during the Ocean Culture and Traditional Knowledge Workshop that was organised by the IUCN in partnership with the UNDP held at the Peninsula Hotel.

Nata says the workshop has created a good start for the 35 participants and encouraged them with traditional stewardship of traditional practices.

He says the challenges faced were caused by the knowledge that disappeared from our culture and caused by a system of oral practices and oral tradition methods which is not documented for future generations.

He added that one of the major effects on our marine life is plastics that have been drifting our seas for years and have brought damage to our marine life.

Nata says it is critical that all nations in the Pacific are working together to protect our ocean.

To mark World Ocean Day today, there will be a march from the Suva Flea Market to Albert Park at 9am. The official program then kicks off at 10am at Albert Park followed by information displays until 3pm.