Page 9 - IB April 2025

We Say We Say

SAVE OUR REEFS

ONLY WE CAN SAVE THESE TREASURES Front Page Pte Limited
GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
Tel: +679 9209375
Our reefs are treasured resources With the visitors comes the threat Sales & Advertising
which must be protected at all costs. from cruise ships and their related fuel, marketing@islandsbusiness.com
There is no substitute for these effluent and rubbish.
valuable assets which play an The relative conservation and Circulation & Distribution
important role in the protection of the environmental laws must be reviewed, subs@islandsbusiness.com
environment and the sustenance of implemented and enforced in order Finance
human and marine life. to protect the reefs as a legacy for finance@islandsbusiness.com
So far, environmental conservation in our children and the children of our Fiji stockists
this country has focused primarily on potential future tourists. Baka Books - 23 McGregor Rd, Suva
land based and coastal ecosystems. These laws, however, will be useless
This is a start. without supportive educational Bulaccino - Nadi Plaza, Nadi
But the fact remains that our reefs programmes in our schools and villages. Dominion Bookshop - BSP Life Building Arcade, Suva
are affected by every action we – and These activities will ensure that the Ginger Kitchen - Fiji Museum
those who use our seas as a means to people have a full understanding of and Malo - Garden City, Raiwai
travel and trade – take. appreciation for all marine life. Maui Bay TOTAL Service Station - Lot 15, Maui Bay Estates
It is, perhaps, our lack of knowledge Because the reefs are looked upon as Palm Court Bistro - QBE Arcade, Victoria Parade, Suva
of the fragility of the reefs, that has barriers or walls which protect our coast Raiwaqa Bakery - Flagstaff & Nausori
made us ignorant of the fact that they from the onslaught of the waves, we The Projects Collective - Colova Estate (The Beachouse),
are under enormous threat. look upon them as impregnable. Coral Coast, Korolevu
The Senegalese conservationist, Baba Reefs are, however, living, breathing USP Book Centre - USP Laucala Campus, Suva
Dioum, said recently: “In the end we life forms which support a multitude of Vuda Marina General Store - Vuda Marina, Lautoka
will conserve only what we love, we marine creatures. Vuetibau Kiosk - Nausori International Airport, Nausori
will love only what we understand, and Australia has realised the enormous Yees Xpressmart - Unit S22, Port Denarau, Nadi
we will understand only what we are value the Great Barrier Reef has to the Regional
taught.” environment and the economy. ASCC Le Bookstore - Pago Pago, American Samoa
Therefore, it is incumbent upon each To this end, the Australian
of us to learn as much as possible about government and her people have taken Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
the reefs which surround our tiny island every possible measure to protect this Heritage Park Hotel – Honiara, Solomon Islands
nation. national asset. Naoero Postal Service Corporation (Nauru Post) – Civic
Centre, Aiwo District, Nauru
It is vitally important that we know While we may not have the financial Belau National Museum - Koror, Palau
how the reefs live and die. resources to launch such a programme, Samoa Stationery and Books - Apia, Samoa
And it is imperative that we each every effort taken by individuals will go
make an effort to ensure that these a long way towards ensuring that our Tuvalu Post - Funafuti, Tuvalu
sources of revenue and life are kept reefs will live forever. Vanuatu Post - Port Vila, Vanuatu
alive. We owe this much to ourselves, to Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM
As a country with beautiful reefs and those who have gone before us, to
a vibrant tourism industry, visitors will the children who will follow us and
inevitably take to the water to admire the Creator who made us and gave us
the coral and fish which make Fiji so stewardship of the world in which we
attractive. live.

Islands Business, April 2025 9