Moves are underway to establish a classification system to protect identified marine areas across the country.

A one day workshop was held at the University of the South Pacific yesterday to discuss the issue.

Acting Director for Fisheries Department Suresh Chand says there is a need to protect these areas for sustainable development.

“Different areas can assist in achieving different objectives in different areas of course for marine protected areas and marine managed areas to be meaningful they will need to provide higher levels of protection.”

The national typology will help establish standard policies that will prescribe activities that take place within Fiji’s marine and terrestrial zone.

Stakeholders at the meeting include representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries, Environment and the Wildlife Conservation Society