Oceans conference to be ‘game-changer’

FIJI – Fiji says it’s crucial that members of the United Nations reach a consensus at this year’s Ocean Conference, saying it could be a game-changer for the future of the Pacific.

Sweden and Fiji are co-hosting the conference in June at the UN’s Headquarters in New York, where countries will discuss a range of issues facing the world’s oceans, including overfishing, climate change and pollution.

Fiji has just held a regional meeting in Suva to preparefor the New York summit, which was attended by small island Pacific states, as well as New Zealand and Australia.

Fiji’s Fisheries Minister, Semi Koroilavesau, told Radio New Zealand’s Dateline Pacific that preparation is going well and he’s feeling hopeful despite the challenges ahead.

“We are taking our issue to New York and to the United Nations to ask other countries to assist in the partnership and maximum sustainable development so we can achieve partnership on the oceans.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: So there’s a lot of work involved in preparing for the conference?

“Absolutely. I mean, this is only the beginning. There was an initial preparatory meeting in New York last month, which was chaired by Fiji and Sweden and we had the regional here and other regional meetings are also being held around the world.

“The Pacific held our regional meeting last week, and then we will take up the issues and hopefully we will reach consensus at the UN meeting in June, where we will hopefully have a clear platform and line of actions to be taken.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: How crucial is it that consensus is reached?

“For the small island states, especially the small Pacific islands, and the low-lying islands and countries around the world, this has to be the game-changer.

“If we cannot achieve any consensus, then there is a huge problem. SG14 – The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 – basically will give significant protection to the low-lying areas around the world because of the rising sea-level, if we cannot reach consensus that is a huge problem for the smaller island states and also the areas around the bigger countries that have low-lying land.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: And as you say though, it will affect or is already affecting the small islands first.

“Absolutely. You know, we say that we are not contributing a lot of pollution but at the end of the day we will be the ones that will suffer the most.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: So you are feeling hopeful about this conference?

“I’m hopeful. I mean, we have no choice. What is the alternative? There is no other alternative. I think the world will come together in June to support this.” - Dateline Pacific