5 Oct 2015

Fiji and Sweden to host oceans conference

11:49 am on 5 October 2015

Fiji and Sweden will co-host the first United Nations conference on seas and oceans in 2017.

Fiji's prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, says Fiji will co-host the first of five triennial conferences in an attempt to help drive momentum to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goal on oceans.

The Fiji Times reports Mr Bainimarma saying the Pacific Islands were deeply concerned because they see the declining health of the ocean every day.

The Sustainable Development Goal for oceans prescribes different targets for reducing marine pollution, ending illegal and unregulated overfishing, and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.

Ship cruising south past Mount Maunganui.

Fiji to host oceans conference in 2017 Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson