Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme 26 Member countries and territories Four Divisions: - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management - Climate Change - Waste Management and Pollution - Environmental Monitoring and Governance Currently 90 staff, based in Apia, Samoa Thank you for the opportunity to be with you all at this important meeting, and for providing the opportunity to chair this session. I’m anticipating a valuable sharing of experiences, but let me first set the scene, especially for those of you who may not know SPREP or the Pacific Islands region very well.

SUSTAINABLE OCEANS - A PACIFIC VOYAGE

COASTAL FISHERIES - THE FORGOTTEN HEART OF PACIFIC LIVELIHOODS #3 Title: The morning catch Abstract: This shot was taken very early one morning in Suva harbour just a stones throw from the Central Business District. Two fishermen worked the nets by hand for over an hour catching fish which is still today key to the Fijians and is a staple in their diets. 3

IMPORTANCE OF COASTAL FISHERIES TO PACIFIC HOUSEHOLDS - 50% Pacific Islands households rely on fish as primary or secondary source of income; - Many in remote islands with unreliable or no internet connection and little contact with government agencies; - Data on coastal fishing is extremely patchy; -

PRODUCTIVE FISHERIES NEED A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT In which fish, iconic species, and all the other elements of the marine ecosystem can exist together. Coastal environments degraded by inappropriate coastal developments, over-fishing and run-off from poorly-managed catchments… plus climate change.

Ecosystem-based Management “Pacific Integrated Island Management” - Case Studies, Lessons Learned & Guidelines Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) - regional and national scale Ecosystem-based Management and Adaptation projects – eg, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu and Kiribati Global Ocean Acidification – developing a regional response for coastal and marine ecosystems Regional and National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans and targets

WASTE MANAGEMENT AND POLLUTION CONTROL - A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS Space needed for landfills Pathogens Hazardous wastes Leachate

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND LIVELIHOODS

7 ….AND LIVELIHOODS, HOMES AND CROPS #7 Title: Vutia Abstract: Photo showing the impact of climate change in the form of inundation for the Delta community of Vutia, Rewa, whereby rising water levels have started to affect livelihoods, which is projected to worsen in future as sea-levels rise globally. 7

AS WELL AS ON FISHERIES, ESPECIALLY ON CORAL REEFS Sea temperature increase of 1.5 degrees, small islands will encounter severe climatic stresses – coral reefs will bleach and eventually die at 2 degrees Global mean temperature will increase in a variable manner, so localised impacts may be more intense than just 2 degrees increase

FUTURE-PROOFING through Ecosystem, Social And Economic RESILIENCE

THANK YOU