Academic calls for more action to preserve Suva foreshore

Prof Vijay Naidu speaks to participants at the USP-Earth Journalism Network’s workshop on environmental journalism in Suva today. Picture: Sheldon Chanel

By SHELDON CHANEL

The Suva foreshore has been under ‘enormous’ pressure from decades of destructive practices with little to no public awareness about the various afflictions, says prominent academic professor Vijay Naidu.

The problems have been exacerbated by no sustained public awareness campaign, absence of environmental issues in Pacific news media coverage and lack of leadership, Professor Naidu says.

Prof Naidu made the comment while delivering his keynote address at a two-day workshop organised by USP’s journalism programme and the Earth Journalism Network (EJN).

The workshop looked at the causes and impacts of pollution in the Suva bay area and possible solutions.

“I have observed over 60 years massive changes to our foreshore including reclamation, destruction of mangrove forests, sewerage and solid waste, and the epidemic of plastic pollution,” he said.

“Fisheries in Suva Bay have depleted enormously, and it is not safe to consume shell fish, or ‘kaikoso‘ collected here. Very sadly, there has hardly any systematic ‘fight back’!

“The public who use the water around the Suva Bay area for fishing have little or no idea about the state of the lagoon and what needs to be done to preserve such a wonderful resource for the people of Suva.

“Some years ago, USP reported that if you fell in the waters of Suva harbour and Laucala Bay, you’d need penicillin injection.”

The former head of The University of the South Pacific’s School of Government, Development and International Affairs was speaking as the chief guest at an environmental journalism workshop today.

Prof Naidu says there is a need for greater collaboration between journalists and scientists to bring attention to these issues and “help us begin the fightback.”

He commended the EJN for providing crucial support to Pacific journalists in the form of grants and training for stronger environmental reporting.

“The workshop is a great example of how scientists and journalists can work together for the greater good,” Prof Naidu said.

Such partnerships should make the public become more aware of the issues regarding the marine environment, and lead to stronger calls for change, Prof Naidu said.

*Sheldon Chanel is the training editor for Wansolwara, USP Journalism’s student training newspaper and online publication.