Fiji may face considerable financial challenges if ocean temperatures continue to rise, according to Margaret Vakalalabure, manager of the World Wildlife Fund’s Coral Reef Rescue Initiative in Fiji. Vakalalabure highlighted that coastal communities could suffer greatly, jeopardizing their livelihoods as warmer waters disrupt fishing activities.
She explained that aquatic life can only thrive within specific temperature ranges for spawning and feeding. At a workshop hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society, she warned that without urgent intervention, the potential economic consequences could amount to millions of dollars.
“When the Earth’s surface temperature rises excessively, it raises ocean temperatures and depletes oxygen levels in the sea,” she stated. This can lead to fish kills, a phenomenon that occurred just before Cyclone Winston struck Fiji in March 2016, particularly along the Coral Coast and other areas.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ocean temperatures have risen by two degrees Celsius, adversely affecting coral reefs as well. Vakalalabure emphasized that coral reefs, often referred to as the ‘forests of the sea,’ are crucial to marine ecosystems, and their degradation can have widespread repercussions. The rising temperatures are significantly impacting Fiji’s corals, leading to serious ecological and economic costs.