TWO senior Pacific journalists will attend the world's leading coral reef
science conference in the United States next week.
Fiji journalist Samisoni Pareti and PNG radio journalist Titi Gabi will attend
the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) which begins Monday, July 7,
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Held once every four years, this year's symposium will convene on the US
mainland for the first time in 30 years.
It will bring together more than 2500 international scientists, policy makers,
managers, and conservationists from 150 countries to present the latest on coral
reef science and management.
Reports from the event will focus on topics including the emerging link between
climate change, ocean acidification and coral reef health; diseases affecting
coral reefs; recovery of coral reef ecosystems following bleaching episodes and
the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas.
SeaWeb Asia Pacific program associate Vasemaca Rarabici said the selection of
the journalists indicates the importance of the conference, especially for small
island nations.
"Even though we are miles away from industrialised countries, we feel the impact
of climate change, sea-level rise and coral bleaching," Ms Rarabici said.