The first phase of consultations on the Lau Seascape and the Marine Protected Area 30x30 Initiative officially commenced today (18/10/21) at Lomaloma Village, in Vanua Balavu.
Led by the Commissioner Eastern, Mr Vitale Varo, the team, comprising of civil servants and staff of two Non-Government Organisations, Conservation International and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conducted consultations at the Tikina Lomaloma and on Wednesday will be at the Tikina Mualevu.
While addressing those present Mr Varo said the commitment of the Government will not succeed without the input of qoliqoli owners, whose contribution will greatly enhance the efforts to protect the ocean.
“It is important to note that this initiative will not affect your immediate qoliqoli, the seas surrounding your island, but it will affect the open seas where large fishing vessels frequent,” said the Commissioner.
“The officials are here to gather your input, your views on this important Government commitment which will benefit not only us but our future generations.”
Conservation International Director, Ms Mere Lakeba said the cooperation of all stakeholders is important.
“This is a huge commitment by Government and the 15 potential sites in Fiji’s offshore ocean space that accounts for 30% of our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have been identified with 8.3% of the sites within the Lau seascape,” said Ms Lakeba.
“This consultation was launched by the Prime Minister on October 6th in Suva, and the province of Lau is the first province the consultation will be conducted in with other maritime provinces falling in after.”
“The first phase covers the islands of Vanua Balavu, Cicia, and Nayau from the 18th to 21st of October while the second phase will cover the rest of the Lau Group.”
Fiji officially launched its 17 Voluntary Commitments at the UN Oceans Conference in New York in 2017 and Government has made a series of commitments to protect 30 percent of waters within its Exclusive Economic Zone by 2030, with the most recent announcement by the Prime Minister at the UN Oceans Conference in Lisbon.
The team will also carry out consultations on Cicia and Nayau islands later in the week. An awareness exercise to enlighten senior students of Adi Maopa Secondary School was also carried out by Fisheries officers and staff of Conservation International and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
A coral planting exercise was also carried out in selected areas within the Vanua Balavu waters by the NGO, Conservation International.