“The growing threat to our oceans is affecting every person on earth, and the movement towards more “blue” economies is global.”
This was the message that Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama shared while opening the first high-level Pacific Blue Economy Conference in Suva today.
Bainimarama encouraged participants; that as Pacific Island nations, it is critical that we lead the charge in advancing the responsible stewardship of our oceans and its resources.
“Our very identity as Pacific Islanders is tied intimately to the health of our oceans and to the marine plant and animal life that inhabit them. We are oceanic peoples, with cultures, histories and ways of life that are all rooted in the ocean environment. And, make no mistake, it is we in the Pacific who face the widespread degradation of our oceans and seas.”
He also made it clear that even though Fiji will serve as the COP23 President, it is the presidency of every Pacific Island nation, and it is our collective concerns and experiences that will be placed in the forefront of the negotiations under the Fijian Presidency.
“The world should look to all small island nations as the fiercest defenders of our oceans and their resources, and as a shining example of how development and sustainable oceans management can go hand-in-hand. So we need to continue to work abroad to inspire action on the part of every nation, and lead by example here at home to live out the expectations we ask from the rest of the world.”