Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is calling on Pacific leaders to lobby and bring together 100 nations by 2025 to agree to an integrated management of the Exclusive Economic Zones.

He says this will be determined by a set of guidelines and targets.

Bainimarama, while speaking at the Oceans Management side-event, with the theme; Integrated Management of 100 Per Cent of EEZ With Up To 30 Per Cent Marine Protected Areas By 2030,  said Fiji has found great hope in the many friends of the ocean that have shown their support to our cause.

“A 100% EEZ strategy can provide regulated and managed ocean buffer between growing coastal populations and the high seas by limiting pollution, controlling fisheries markets, increasing fish stocks, protecting bio-diversity, re-building eco-systems and monitoring shipping among other benefits.”

Bainimarama says Fiji has already committed to the 2030 target and is now officially challenging others to follow the lead.