Fiji could face severe financial repercussions if ocean temperatures continue to rise, as warned by Margaret Vakalalabure, manager of the World Wildlife Fund’s Coral Reef Rescue Initiative in Fiji. She highlighted that coastal communities are likely to be significantly affected, with their livelihoods threatened due to the impact of warming waters on fishing.
“All living creatures in the water are able to maintain certain temperatures; with the current water temperatures, they can spawn and feed,” Ms. Vakalalabure stated during a workshop organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society. She expressed concern that the potential economic consequences could amount to millions of dollars unless urgent action is taken.
“When the Earth’s surface becomes excessively hot, it contributes to the warming of the water, leading to low oxygen levels in the sea. This can result in fish kills, as seen before Cyclone Winston struck in March 2016,” she noted, referencing incidents that occurred along the Coral Coast and other regions in Fiji.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sea temperatures have risen by two degrees Celsius, adversely affecting the coral reefs. Ms. Vakalalabure remarked, “Our coral reefs will start to bleach. They serve as the forests of the sea, and when they are impacted, everything else follows.”
She emphasized that the rising temperatures are having a significant detrimental effect on the corals in Fiji, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures.