FIJI : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched the Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies for the Asia and Pacific region.

The action plan, launched at the 52nd Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors in Fiji’s third largest city of Nadi, will expand financing and technical assistance for ocean health and marine economy projects to 5 billion U.S. dollars from 2019 to 2024, including cofinancing from partners.

The action plan will focus on four areas: creating inclusive livelihoods and business opportunities in sustainable tourism and fisheries; protecting and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems and key rivers; reducing land-based sources of marine pollution, including plastics, wastewater, and agricultural runoff; and improving sustainability in port and coastal infrastructure development.