Rights of coastal communities important

When delegates sit down next week in New York to consider how to ensure the sustainability of the world's oceans there will be a strong Pacific push to focus on the rights of coastal communities.

The UN's Oceans' Conference is being co-hosted by Fiji and Sweden, with a specific focus on Sustainable Development Goal 14 - namely to conserve and sustainably manage the use of the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Hugh Govan is an advisor with the Locally Managed Marine Area network and has worked with coastal communities for many years.

He told Don Wiseman traditional Pacific communities have a lot to contribute to the world's understanding of how to manage the oceans sustainably and they should be listened to.