Now more than ever the ocean desperately needs our voice - AG

Now more than ever before the ocean desperately needs our voice.

This was the message from the Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while delivering his address to mark World Oceans Day at the British High Commissioner's residence this morning.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this World Oceans Day in particular, reminds us that in a changing and unprecedented world, we can still turn to our seas for solutions.

He says there needs to be collaboration across all fronts and all borders to both protect the ocean and tap into their vast potential for generations to come.

Sayed-Khaiyum also announced Fiji’s commitment to UK’s initiative calling for a global target of 30 per cent of the planet’s oceans to be protected by 2030.

He says this initiative aims to bring the rest of the world to Fiji's benchmark ensuring that at least 30 percent of the global ocean is assigned to marine protection by 2030.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this will be reflected in Fiji's upcoming National Ocean Policy.

He says as abuses of the ocean’s resources continue to grow more severe, so does the need for novel solutions and the innovators who will create them and that is why Fiji has welcomed the 30 by 30 Global Oceans Alliance initiative.

Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to Fiji, Melanie Hopkins says the UK remains committed to support the Pacific in their efforts to protect the environment.

Hopkins says they are funding a number of ocean related projects in the Pacific.