HIS EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, LVO, OBE (Mil), OStJ, CSM, MSD
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI

ADDRESS AT THE SPECIAL RECEPTION ON SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN A GREEN BLUE ECONOMY

WAITT Institute Yacht Friday, 27th September, 2013
Kings Wharf 6.25p.m.

• The Acting Prime Minister, Attorney General and Minister responsible for Environment, Hon. Aiyaz Saiyed Khaiyum
• The Acting Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forests, Commander Viliame Naupoto
• The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Mr Peter Eafeare
• The Regional Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Taholo Kami
• Your Excellencies the Ambassadors and High Commissioners
• Heads of the International Organizations
• Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
• Representatives of International Organizations
• -Distinguished Guests
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Evening, Ni sa Bula Vinaka, Salam Alaykum, Namaste.
It is indeed my great pleasure to be with you here at this special reception to acknowledge the sterling work that is being done in Fiji to promote and realize sustainable fisheries management, within the context of a green blue economy.

The WAITT Institute when agreeing for this function to take place on this prestigious vessel – quietly - indicated their commitment as well as the symbolic acknowledgement of the kind of public-private partnership that it takes to make sure that together we act as responsible custodians of our seas and the vast resources contained in them. Such partnerships allow for the continuance of such activities as fisheries management, environment protection, enhancing ecosystem services, building resilience and adapting to climate change – to name but a few – thus ensuring that future generations can benefit from them as we do.

Indeed, our mandate is now stronger than ever, as it is now enshrined in the supreme law of our land. Earlier this month, I gave my assent to Fiji’s new constitution, which protects the right of every Fijian to a clean and healthy environment, which includes the right to have the natural world protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

In 2005, the Fijian government made a declaration at the meeting of Small Island Developing States in Mauritius to effectively protect 30 percent of its inshore and offshore marine habitats by 2020.

This bold move set the tone for conservation efforts in the pacific. The move spurred our pacific neighbours and the Micronesian leaders challenged each other for a similar gallant, but vastly managerial stand and set a similar challenge for themselves, resulting in the Micronesian challenge commitment by the Republic of Palau, Federates States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Guam, and Northern Marianas that was made a year later at the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Brazil in 2006.

For Fiji, this commitment is clearly stated in the National Biodiversity Strategy And Action Plan (NBSAP) that is being implemented through different government, non-government and community partnerships. Indeed, this spirit of partnership is best reflected in the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas (FLMMA) initiative.

This initiative has placed Fiji in a position where it can meet its goal for inshore habitats within the legally demarcated traditional fisheries management areas. I highly commend the efforts of all those involved in this initiative.

As Fiji looks to grow the economic returns from its offshore fishing sector, as well as to develop offshore mining interests, there is an urgent need for pro-active management that will protect sensitive areas of biodiversity while respecting Fiji’s objectives for economic development. This is our responsibility to future generations.

Indeed, I am pleased to note that the new offshore fisheries management decree provides the scope to conserve, manage and develop Fijian fisheries to ensure long term sustainable use for the benefit of our people. Once again, we are leading the way in the pacific.

Distinguished guests, as I conclude my brief remarks this evening, I am obliged to challenge all of you to explore new ideas for sustainable offshore fisheries management in order to sustain and minimize the environmental degradation on pollution to our marine ecosystems.

I believe that we are trail blazing a responsible course in Fiji. However, we can always work to improve our efforts. What this means is we should not be resting on our laurels, but at all times be seeking for new and innovative solutions.

How can we work to put in place formal or informal protection of fisheries outside of traditional fisheries management areas? How do we integrate green blue economic concepts into realistic, practical and achievable fisheries management policies, which are truly sustainable?

The answer to all these rests with you and I – all of us.

I strongly believe that we can still do better – and we must – to contribute much more to the green blue economy through our individual actions for the conservation and management of fisheries resources and for its sustainable usage in the future – for the benefit of future generations of pacific islanders.

With these few words, I thank you for your attention, please enjoy the evening.

Thank you, vinaka vakalevu, sukria, bahoot dhanyavaad.