Marine pollution

Every year NMSA engage selected secondary schools located within the maritime provinces to assist its Marine Environment Protection Department (MEDP) staff to clean-up the shore lines.

Recently, a joint clean-up exercise was conducted at Dali beachfront with assistance from teachers and students from Vanimo Secondary School.

NMSA Chief Executive Officer, Paul Unas said protecting our marine environment is very important because we dependent on marine life to sustain our livelihood.

Overfishing and marine pollution are seen as the main reasons for the decline.

60 percent of people in Fiji live in coastal areas and depend on fish as a source of income and food.

Permanent Secretary Sanaila Naqali the Ministry will work with Fijians to implement good fishing techniques.

It has started on projects aiming to ease some of the pressure on the marine life around the reefs, which is a key source of coastal fish.

Mr Naqali said with the projects in place, fish stocks should become sustainable again.