Our reefs are showing encouraging signs of recovery from bleaching.
UN Special Envoy on Oceans Peter Thomson says the colourful life under the water is a positive sign that our reefs are doing well.
Thomson was part of a diving expedition near the Great Sea Reef on Wednesday, prior to the launching of the International Year of the Reef.
The dive team explored various reef structures that were at different stages of recovery from bleaching.
Thomson says we can’t let our coral reefs deteriorate like in other parts of the world.
He says we need to save and protect our reefs.
“Agriculture, industrial and sewage, the tourism industry – they have to be aware of the importance of the coral and the ecosystem and this also includes fishermen, not taking part in fisheries activities that damage the reef like overfishing, duva or dynamite or anything like that.”
Thomson adds corals are vital to life in Fiji and this reef (GSR) in particular is very important.
The GSR runs for over 200km from the northeastern tip of Udu Point in Vanua Levu to Bua at the North West edge of Vanua Levu, across the Vatuira passage, veering off along the way to hug the coastline of Ra and Ba provinces and into the Yasawa’s.
