The MOU begins a five-year partnership that will support the development of a

Marine Spatial Plan, a Blue Economy Strategy, and protection of 30% of Fiji’s ocean

waters that stretch from Fiji’s coast to the limits of its EEZ. The MOU provides a

mechanism to draw on support for inclusive decision-making processes and the

implementation of those decisions. The MOU recognizes that ultimately all decisions

taken to manage its oceans is an exercise of sovereignty for Fiji and its citizens.

The MOU will create Blue Prosperity Fiji that will focus on three core areas:

• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to achieve a comprehensive marine spatial plan designed to sustainably manage 100% of Fiji’s marine and coastal waters, fully protect at least 30% of Fiji’s marine and coastal waters and plan for the development of ocean economies.

• Blue Economy (BE) to promote economic diversification and growth, social inclusion, and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas.

• Sustainable Fisheries to support Fiji’s fisheries goals and safeguard long-term, sustainable ocean health.

The Waitt Institute is a non-profit that partners with committed governments and

local stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable ocean plans that benefit

communities, the economy, and the environment. The Waitt Institute brings an

expert team to support three main pillars of work: Marine Spatial Planning, Blue

Economy, and Sustainable Fisheries to help governments around the globe protect

their ocean and manage their resources sustainably for future generations.

The Waitt Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports marine

conservation efforts around the globe through grantmaking. It takes a hands-on,

partnership-oriented approach to support governments, research institutions and

NGOs in protecting the ocean. The Foundation funds projects and campaigns aimed

at ending overfishing, the creation and expansion of Marine Protected Areas,

facilitates Marine Spatial Planning, and raising public awareness about the rapid

decline in ocean health. With a particular focus on enduring public private

partnerships and conservation finance, its principal goal is to support governments

in achieving their own sustainable fisheries, "Blue Prosperity," and ocean

conservation goals.

The Blue Prosperity Coalition (BPC) is a coalition of NGOs, academic institutions,

foundations, and other organizations working together to assist committed

governments in developing and implementing sustainable marine spatial plans to

protect the environment and improve the economy at the same time.

The Blue Prosperity Coalition has partnerships with the Azores, Barbuda, Bermuda,

Curaçao, the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, and Tonga.

The Waitt Institute is the organizing body of the Blue Prosperity Coalition. The Waitt

Foundation provides funding through grants to core partners in the Coalition.

The main goals of the MOU are to assist Fiji in the implementation of a National

Ocean Policy (NOP) and the fulfillment of their ocean commitments in three core

areas: (1) Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), (2) Blue

Economy, and (3) Sustainable Fisheries. Blue Prosperity Fiji will build on the

significant body of work underway by regional organizations, technical agencies,

donor agencies, and NGOs.

The Fiji National Ocean Policy (NOP) was developed by the Fijiian Government

following a consultative process to provide a healthy ocean that sustains the

livelihoods and aspirations of current and future generations of Fijians. The

implementation of the NOP aims to secure and sustainably manage all of Fiji’s

Ocean and marine resources by integrating scientific and traditional knowledge.

View the Fiji National Ocean Policy here.

A National Ocean Policy Steering Committee (NOPSC) with inter-ministerial

representation will oversee the progress of its implementation and deliverables.

Subsidiary working groups, with defined tasks and associated protocols, will be

established if necessary, by the NOPSC. The NOP was developed under the Ministry

of Economy’s guidance. Future planning will include consultation with all

stakeholders including: Government agencies, industry (such as tourism and

commercial fishing), civil society organisations and NGOs, locally based community

groups, ocean experts, and individuals.

Funding & expertise with an ambition to be truly collaborative that includes:

1. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to achieve a comprehensive marine spatial plan designed to sustainably manage 100% of Fiji’s marine and coastal waters, and fully protect at least 30% of Fiji’s marine and coastal waters.

2. Blue Economy (BE) Planning to promote economic diversification and growth, social inclusion, and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas.

3. Sustainable Fisheries Planning to safeguard long-term, sustainable ocean production.

4. Supporting activities including assessments, community engagement, outreach & education, coordination with government & NGOs, capacity building & knowledge sharing.

After the MOU is signed, a joint planning phase for the Blue Prosperity Program will

begin between the Fiji Government, partner NGOs, and the Waitt Institute. This

process will be supported and facilitated by the Waitt Institute and result in a jointly

agreed and inclusive implementation plan for Fiji.

The health of Fiji’s ocean is critical for economic stability, livelihoods and jobs, food

security, climate change mitigation, tourism, and preserving cultural and ancestral

rights. Global and local ocean ecosystems and resources are under several severe

stresses, including resource extraction, pollution, coastal and land development and

climate change impacts, such as ocean warming, high intensity cyclones, heavy

rainfall, sea level rise and coral bleaching. Creating a comprehensive management

strategy is necessary to ensure that ocean ecosystems are kept in balance for Fijians.

The Blue Prosperity Program will support the implementation of the National Ocean

Policy and will work through the guidance of the National Ocean Policy Steering

Committee. The Waitt Institute will work in partnership with the Ministry of

Economy, Civil Service and Communication, the Ministry of Fisheries and the

Ministry of Waterways and Environment.

Through this effort, the Program also will align closely with the Inshore Fisheries

Management Division of the Ministry of Fisheries as well as the existing network of

Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) managed by over 400 communities as local

stewards with technical guidance and support from the Fiji Locally Managed Marine

Area Network (FLMMA). In addition, the Program will collaborate with existing area

based management efforts, including those undertaken in collaboration with Fiji

based NGOs, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Conservation International, World

Wildlife Fund, and, cChange. IUCN also plays an important role in coordinating

much of this work including assisting with the implementation of the NOP.