Next week, the United Nations Oceans' Conference is being held in New York, co-hosted by Fiji and Sweden, with a specific focus on Sustainable Development Goal 14 - namely to conserve and sustainably manage the use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.
Hugh Govan is an advisor with the Locally Managed Marine Area network and had worked with Pacific coastal communities for many years.
He said these communities had lived in harmony with the ocean for thousands of years and they need to be listened to.
