By Report 3,STAFF REPORTERS
Copyright islandsbusiness
THE British High Commission in Fiji has joined forces with Conservation International and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) to launch the Sustainable Blue Pacific Initiative.
This partnership is expected to strengthen marine governance, community-led monitoring, and sustainable financing across the region.
“This partnership provides the resources our region needs to scale up technical capacity towards the ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, financing, and inclusive governance to manage pressures at the scale required,’’ Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimoni Manoni said.
“By strengthening capacity at both community and regional levels, we are able to foster regional cooperation and therefore advance the resilience and stewardship our Blue Pacific Continent depends upon.”
The initiative will help Pacific governments and communities prepare for the implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. Also known as the High Seas Treaty, this landmark UN agreement commits countries to protect marine life in international waters that lie beyond any national jurisdiction, a critical step to strengthen regulation.
With financial support from the UK government through its flagship Climate Action for a Resilient Asia programme, the project will also contribute to the global commitment to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.
The initiative will also deliver practical outcomes: readiness workshops and technical assessments to support Pacific governments under the BBNJ Agreement; regional citizen science guidelines co-developed with the University of Samoa; and support design of sustainable financing to ensure long-term protection of Pacific waters.
“The Pacific Islands contribute the least to the climate crisis, yet are among the first to face its impacts,” said Conservation International’s Pacific Islands Vice President Susana Waqainabete-Tuisese.
“This initiative provides tools, financing, and partnerships that empower communities to protect the ocean that sustains their food security, culture, and livelihoods.”
