The latest #DiplomaticPost - The Pacific Ocean links New Zealand and the US, not just geographically, but also culturally, politically, economically, and environmentally. We are trading nations, each with a rich maritime heritage. Both countries have important industries that rely on fishing, ocean-related tourism, aquaculture, and shipping. In this ocean, demands are great but supply is limited and fragile. Without serious action, our oceans will be overfished, its biodiversity destroyed, and our ecosystems permanently altered. The oceans are a source of livelihood for millions around the world, especially here in the Pacific. Furthermore, New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister McCully pointed out yesterday in his remarks at the conference that, “last year, only 10 per cent of the $4-5 billion of tuna harvested in Pacific waters made its way back to those nations…. That can only mean that some of the wealthiest countries on the planet are profiting at the expense of some of the poorest”. Only by working together can we preserve these oceans that we rely on so heavily. Together, the United States and New Zealand have already made progress. Our two countries have begun a joint project to create a marine protected area in Antarctica’s Ross Sea, spanning 1.34 million square kilometers. We have already promoted our case for this project twice before the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), and we hope to gain the consensus of 25 member states in order to push the project through. Last December, the U.S. Embassy teamed up with the New Zealand government, the NZ seafood industry, and the Gordon & Betty Moore foundation to co-sponsor an ocean acidification workshop in Nelson. The two-day conference brought together more than 60 shellfish experts to share knowledge concerning the protection of New Zealand’s NZ$ 350 million aquaculture industry, which aims to reach one billion dollars in sales by 2025. (Watch our new video here.) Workshop coordinator, Dr. Todd Capson of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) will return to New Zealand next week to follow up on the conference and the workshop’s success. From June 25-July 4, Dr. Capson will visit with students and scientists in Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington, and Nelson....
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 02:28:32 +0000