Integrated ocean management unites the Pacific

-
A Pacific region that is united makes for a strong global voice. How should that voice speak for our ocean?

Delegates from across Oceania gathered in Apia, Samoa, this week to discuss new and emerging opportunities to increase the economic benefits to Pacific islands countries and territories from the sustainable development, management and conservation of the ocean and its resources.
The Pacific Ocean Alliance (POA) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Sustainable Ocean Initiative workshop for the Pacific Islands was co-organised and funded by the CBD Secretariat, POA, Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Agence des aires marine protégées(French Agency for Marine Protected Areas), the Pacific Community (SPC), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with additional funding from the Japan Biodiversity Fund and Australian Aid.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, reflects the global value of the ocean and provides an opportunity for a more effective, integrated effort to meet this sustainability goal.

“My nomination as the Pacific Ocean Commissioner and the establishment of the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner is in large measure a response by Forum Leaders to our acknowledged, joint commitment to finding a new equilibrium between our present rights and future obligations to our ocean and its resources,” said Dame Meg Taylor.

“The Pacific Ocean Alliance plays a crucial role in bringing together the multiple stakeholders from multiple sectors that need to work together toward common cause and purpose, if we are to ensure the sustainable development, management and conservation of our ocean and resources,” she added.
The regional unity and cooperation that resulted in the achievements of the Paris Agreement are a reminder that integration and commitment to shared values can produce powerful results, especially for indigenous peoples and developing states.

"Over generations, we have developed a culture, an intimate relationship and unique dependency on the ocean. As the health of the marine ecosystem declines, so too does its capacity to provide food, livelihoods and income,” said Hon. Taefu LemiTaefu, Associate Minister for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for the Government of Samoa, noting that developing states are the least resourced to adapt to these changes.

The participants of the combined POA and CBD-Sustainable Ocean Initiative workshop include representatives from a range of industries, NGOs, as well as environment, fisheries and other development agency representatives from Pacific island countries and territories. Regional agencies including SPREP, University of the South Pacific (USP), Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Pacific Community (SPC), South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), and Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) also participated in the workshop.

Outcomes of this meeting will also be part of informing global negotiations on oceans in 2017. Goals, mechanisms, and successes identified here in Apia are a step toward a united Pacific perspective for global oceans sustainable use and conservation.

 “We need to be far more aware of the need to collaborate and cooperate if our use of the ocean is to become sustainable,” said Mr Roger Cornforth, Deputy Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

“The Pacific Ocean Alliance partners, including CROP agencies, are tasked with facilitating and informing this integration.”

The workshop participants have been sharing experience across different sectors, identifying success factors and common challenges and also outlining ways to enhance cross-sectoral coordination, planning and management.

ENDS///

Source:  Pacific Islands Forum

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AUSTRALIA: A STEADFAST PARTNER AND FRIEND TO SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY DR LACHLAN STRAHN, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOLOMON ISLANDS Australia and Solomon Islands enjoy a close bond – indeed, we are Pacific family. The Blue Pacific is our shared home, our common region. The Coral Sea links us forever and continental drift is in fact pushing us closer together. But our deep friendship is based on much more than shared geography. We are bound together by our common values as democratic countries committed to peace, a rich spiritual life and a shared determination to give every individual, man, woman, girl and boy, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Family stick together, through the good times and the tough times. Australia partnered with Solomon Islands during some of the country’s darkest moments, including through RAMSI to help restore stability and law and order. And Solomon Islands has been there for Australia, with people across the country reaching into their hearts to raise funds for the communities ravaged by devastating bushfir...
Read more

VANUATU BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CANNED TUNA FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY GEORGINA KEKEA VANUATU is the biggest importer of canned tuna from Solomon Islands. National Fisheries Development (NFD) Limited Managing Director, Frank Wickham shared this information in a recent radio talkback show to mark World Tuna Day. Wickham says the biggest export destination for SolTuna’s canned tuna is Vanuatu. “Followed by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the market is now open in New Zealand. There is a big move now to promote and market in New Zealand and Australia. We have containers going to Kiribati, Tuvalu with a few to Tonga and Marshall Islands. The biggest of them all is Vanuatu”, Wickham said. He says domestically the consumption of tuna is growing annually making Solomon  Islands one of the biggest canned tuna consumption per capita in the world. “Two years ago it was like more than 800,000 cartons a year. which means for every woman, man and child in the country, they consume one carton a year. So if you look at 48 tin cans in one carton, it is almost one ...
Read more

HOW A TINY PROVINCE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REACHES OUT TO AUSTRALIA

-
Image
THE small island province of Temotu in the far eastern part of Solomon Islands is one of the nation’s most prone natural hazard areas. The tsunami in 2013 swamped through 20 villages With an estimated population of less than 25,000, Temotu often has its bouts of natural disasters. In 2015, tropical cyclone Pam left devastating effects on the tiny province where people were affected from damages to their fruit trees, food gardens and agricultural crops. People near the coast were evacuated. Then again in 2017, TC Donna in its wake and formation also impacted badly on the people of Temotu. Not to mention it was only seven years ago a tsunami claimed lives of more than 10 people, swamped more than 20 villages forcing the government to declare a state of emergency over the Santa Cruz Islands. Remains of household in Venga village after 2013 tsunami (Photo supplied) Their most recent bout of disaster was in January 2019 where bad weather caused people to face food shortag...
Read more