Fiji's prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, says Fiji will co-host the first of five triennial conferences in an attempt to help drive momentum to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goal on oceans.
The Fiji Times reports Mr Bainimarma saying the Pacific Islands were deeply concerned because they see the declining health of the ocean every day.
The Sustainable Development Goal for oceans prescribes different targets for reducing marine pollution, ending illegal and unregulated overfishing, and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.