Salutation
Ni sa bula vina’a and a very good morning to you all.
Acknowledgement
Let me begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand today, ki Nadonumai vua na Turaga na Tui Suva. I pay my respects to the Chiefs, past and present, and to the emerging leaders of the Vanua.
We acknowledge with gratitude the enduring custodianship of the Vanua, which continues to provide the foundation for our communities, our environment and our shared responsibility to protect Fiji’s natural heritage.
Introduction
1.0 It is a pleasure to join you today as we mark another important milestone in Fiji’s efforts to remove derelict vessels from Suva Harbour.
2.0 This work, supported through the Captain Johnathan Smith Fund, demonstrates what can be achieved when Government, the private sector, development partners and communities work together towards a common national objective.
3.0 The Fund, established through partnership between the Fiji Government and the Waitt Foundation, provides US$1 million towards the removal of 17 high-risk derelict vessels from Suva Harbour, while also supporting legal reforms to address the underlying causes of vessel abandonment.
4.0 This is important because the challenge before us is not simply about removing old vessels.
5.0 It is about restoring the health and functionality of our harbour, protecting our marine environment, improving maritime safety, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that the burden of abandoned vessels does not continue to fall on Government, communities and future generations. This must not be repeated.
Whole-of-Government and Partnership Approach
6.0 This initiative also demonstrates the value of a strong Whole-of-Government approach.
7.0 The project brings together the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited and other relevant agencies through the Joint Maritime and Enforcement Committee.
8.0 I acknowledge the leadership and contribution of Fiji Ports Corporation Limited in coordinating the operational aspects of vessel removal, including identification and prioritisation of vessels, management of approved contractors, environmental safeguards, cleaning and disposal arrangements.
9.0 The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji provides the necessary maritime expertise, including advice on approved locations and certification of vessels in accordance with safety and environmental requirements.
10.0 The Department of Environment provides environmental oversight, including the assessment and clearance processes required for removal.
11.0 And importantly, this work has been strengthened through the support of the Waitt Foundation and Waitt Institute.
12.0 When we bring together our different mandates, expertise, resources and partnerships, we can deliver solutions that are greater than the sum of our individual efforts.
13.0 This is the essence of effective national coordination.
Protecting Our Ocean and Advancing Marine Spatial Planning
14.0 For too long, derelict vessels have presented risks to the safety, environment and economic productivity of our harbour.
15.0 They can obstruct navigation, degrade marine ecosystems, introduce pollutants, damage coastal habitats and undermine the productive use of marine spaces.
16.0 They can also affect the fisheries and other food sources on which our coastal communities depend.
17.0 This is therefore not simply a harbour-cleaning exercise. It is part of Fiji’s broader commitment to resilience, sustainable development and responsible ocean stewardship.
18.0 Our ocean is one of Fiji’s greatest national assets. It supports food security, livelihoods, tourism, fisheries, transport, trade, culture and our national identity. We must therefore manage it strategically and sustainably.
19.0 This is where Marine Spatial Planning, or MSP, becomes particularly important. MSP provides us with a framework to better understand, plan and manage the different uses of our marine space while protecting the ecosystems and resources upon which those activities depend.
20.0 Our commitment to sustainably managing 100 percent of Fiji’s ocean and fully protecting 30 percent through effective marine conservation and management measures requires practical action. That action starts with getting the fundamentals right.
21.0 We cannot plan for a healthy and productive ocean while our harbours contain abandoned vessels that threaten marine ecosystems, navigation and economic activity. This becomes an issue of credibly on our part.
22.0 Removing these vessels, strengthening regulatory frameworks, improving inter-agency coordination and establishing mechanisms to prevent future abandonment are therefore practical expressions of the principles underpinning MSP.
Ocean of Peace and Resilience
23.0 This work also reflects Fiji’s aspiration for the Pacific as an Ocean of Peace.
24.0 An Ocean of Peace is not only about maintaining peace and security at sea. It is about ensuring that our ocean remains a safe, healthy, productive and resilient space for our people and for future generations.
25.0 It means protecting the ocean from environmental degradation, about responsible behaviour in promoting the sustainable use of marine resources, strengthening maritime governance and safety and ensuring that our Pacific Ocean space remains a foundation for cooperation, prosperity and shared security.
26.0 The removal of derelict vessels contributes directly to this vision by restoring the integrity and functionality of our maritime spaces and demonstrating that ocean stewardship requires practical action at every level.
Supporting Communities, the Environment and the Economy
27.0 For our coastal communities, these vessels are much more than an eyesore.
28.0 They represent environmental risks, navigational hazards and lost economic opportunities. They can interfere with access to fishing grounds, affect marine habitats and undermine the productive use of our coastal waters.
29.0 A cleaner and safer Suva Harbour supports healthier marine ecosystems and provides a stronger foundation for maritime activity, fisheries, tourism, transport and investment. This is where environmental sustainability and economic development must come together.
30.0 Environmental protection is not a constraint on economic growth. Properly managed, it is an enabler of sustainable and enduring growth.
31.0 As Government works towards lifting Fiji’s long-term economic growth to 6 percent annually and positioning Fiji to achieve High Income Country status by 2050, we must ensure that growth is supported by resilient infrastructure, productive industries, sustainable natural resources and a healthy environment.
32.0 Our ports and maritime spaces are critical economic infrastructure. A well-managed maritime sector reduces risks, supports trade and investment, creates opportunities for businesses and communities, and strengthens Fiji’s position as a connected Pacific economy.
33.0 The removal of derelict vessels therefore contributes not only to environmental protection, but also to the productivity, safety and multiplier effect of the structure of our national economy.
Strengthening Accountability and Preventing Recurrence
34.0 However, removal alone is not enough. We must address the systems and regulatory gaps that allow vessels to become derelict in the first place.
35.0 That is why I welcome the commitment to pursue legal and regulatory reforms that strengthen accountability and establish clearer responsibilities for vessel owners.
36.0 The objective must be simple: those responsible for vessels must also be responsible for their proper management, maintenance and eventual disposal.
37.0 Government resources should not continually be required to address liabilities created by irresponsible abandonment.
38.0 Our communities should not have to bear the environmental and economic costs and future generations should not inherit these problems. This is an important part of building a more resilient maritime governance system.
Fiji’s International Commitments
39.0 Our actions today also contribute to Fiji’s broader national and international commitments, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our climate and biodiversity commitments, and our obligations and responsibilities under relevant international ocean and maritime frameworks.
40.0 These commitments are meaningful only when translated into action on the ground.
41.0 Today’s operation is an example of that principle. It demonstrates that sustainable development requires us to connect environmental protection, economic opportunity, public safety, effective governance and community wellbeing.
42.0 It also demonstrates the importance of partnerships in delivering on our national priorities.
Conclusion
43.0 Ladies and Gentlemen, The work we recognise today is a practical investment in Fiji’s future.
44.0 It is an investment in cleaner and healthier marine ecosystems. An investment in safer and more resilient maritime spaces. An investment in stronger ocean governance and the effective implementation of Marine Spatial Planning and an investment in the economic productivity of our ports, coastal communities and maritime sector.
45.0 I extend the government and my sincere appreciation to the Waitt Foundation and Waitt Institute for their financial and technical support – your partnership and has made this work possible. I thank the Government agencies, private sector partners, contractors and communities involved in this important undertaking.
46.0 I also acknowledge the Joint Maritime and Enforcement Committee and the teams working on the ground for their commitment and cooperation.
47.0 Let us use this milestone to build a stronger system that prevents the problem from returning.
48.0 Let us continue to protect our ocean as an economic, environmental, cultural and strategic asset capable of supporting prosperity for generations to come.
49.0 As we pursue the ambitions of our National Development Plan and our Vision 2050, our objective is clear: to build a Fiji that is resilient, sustainable, productive and positioned to achieve High Income Country status by 2050.
50.0 Vinaka vakalevu
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