The President of French Polynesia, Moetai Brotherson Monday emphasised the importance of sustainable development and traditional knowledge in preserving marine ecosystems.
“I find it very inspiring that Japan has a special holiday for the ocean. I think this is something every country in the world could draw inspiration from,” Brotherson said in his remarks at the Oceans Day in Tokyo.
Brotherson highlighted the critical need for sustainable development, particularly for Pacific Island nations.
“Sustainable development is key to all of us Pacific Island nations. We know the pressure public development, which is necessary for our people, puts on our nature, especially on the ocean. Agriculture industry puts pressure on the ocean; fisheries, if not done sustainably, put immense pressure on the ocean.”
He explained French Polynesia’s commitment to sustainable fishing practices.
“In my country, we decided a long time ago to adopt sustainable fishing methods. We only have long liners, and we don’t have seiners.
We don’t issue fish permits; only Tahitian vessels fish, which gives us the international label of sustainable fishing, and that is important to us,” he said.
Brotherson also spoke about integrating modern techniques with ancestral traditions.
“We try to blend modern-day techniques of administering resources with our ancestral traditions, such as what we call ‘rahui’, which is our marine form of administering, timing, and zoning to protect those resources in the oceans and the lagoons”
He emphasised the shared connection with Japan through the Pacific Ocean and commended the efforts of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
“We share the same oceans as Japan does, the Pacific Ocean. It’s called the Pacific for a reason, but it can also remind us from time to time that we should stay humble in the face of nature.”
“Ocean and peace are linked because they are both precious. And we commend the efforts of the Sasakawa Foundation to work on both issues.”
As Pacific Islanders, Brotherson noted the ocean’s unifying role.
“The ocean does not divide us. It’s the very essence of what links us.
Our ancestors navigated this mighty ocean long before Europe dared to venture away from coastlines,” he said.
He stressed the importance of educating youth about ocean preservation and to honour and share traditional knowledge.
“To us, the education of youths about the preservation of the ocean is something we cherish. In our schools, we started a few years ago a programme to bring pupils out of the classroom and into the field to appreciate nature, to see the fish for themselves, and to learn about how our ancestors navigated the oceans by reading the stars, tasting the sea, looking at the birds, and studying the currents.”
“It is our duty to remind the world that this ancient traditional knowledge is something we have to share with the rest of the world. If it made sense back then, it makes even more sense today,” he said.
