Niue, a tiny island in the humongous Pacific Ocean, wants to protect its pristine waters and you can help do so. Dalton Tagelagi, Niue’s Prime Minister, presented a plan in New York wherein individuals or businesses can pay to protect one square kilometer of ocean from plastic waste or illegal fishing.
The people of Niue depend on the ocean and the territorial waters for their livelihood. They have a close connection with the sea – going back to the region’s inhabitation. Tagelagi said Niue is surrounded by the big blue ocean.
Niueans inherited and learned about the ocean from their forefathers and they want to be able to pass it onto the next generation in sustainable health. Fishing sustains the local people. There are also small-scale commercial operations and occasional offshore industrial-scale fishing in the region.
Illegal Fishing and Sea-level Rise Hits Niue
Tagelagi said illegal fishing has impacted the region. Experts say unregulated fishing can impact fish stocks, and plastic waste can be destructive. It can be deadly for fishes (if plastic waste is ingested) and entangle marine life like turtles, jellyfish, octopus and sea birds.
Moreover, Niue is vulnerable to sea-level rise. The Pacific Islander said rising sea levels threaten their land and fresh water. Australian researchers say five tiny Pacific islands, which were part of Solomon Islands, have already disappeared. Tuvalu, Kiribati and Marshall Islands face the most risk.
Sea level rise is a major threat because it heightens food and water insecurity, and erodes land. It cannot be tackled by just building seawalls. Constant monitoring and funds are needed, and relocation plans of the impacted people or community.
What is Niue’s Plan
Niue needs funds, or sponsorship money for Ocean Conservation Commitments which will be administered by a charitable trust. Around 1,700 sponsorship units are needed as the island has a population of only 1,700 people. Niue’s long list of donors includes Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple, and his wife Lyna Lam, and a US-based non-profit Conservation International among others.
Also Read : World In Urgent Need Of Ocean-Centric Action To Protect A Critical Ally
Niue needs to constantly seek new funding on a project by project basis. Businesses and individuals can help protect by giving $148 per square kilometer.
