Fiji’s Port Denarau Marina in the Spotlight

The Marina Industries Association (MIA) recently announced that Jumeirah Beach Hotel Resort Marina in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Port Denarau in Fiji have been awarded Marina Fish Friendly Marina Level 3 accreditations - a first for the South Pacific, reports Dave Jamieson of Asia Pacific Superyachts Fiji. 

Port Denarau Marina is also among the finalists for International Marina and Best Community Support Initiative for the MIA's Club Marine Marina Awards 2017/18.

Port Denarau Marina Fiji

In an article in Oceans Magazine, MIA President Andrew Chapman said,

“Both these marinas are in emerging and strong marina growth regions. They are setting the benchmark for others to follow. What is also pleasing is that the marinas are using the Clean Marina program guidelines as an environmental template to upgrade facilities and services and for the environmental education of their clients and communities.”

Port Denarau Marina is the largest marina in Fiji and provides for both commercial and recreational boats. The independent Clean Marina auditor was particularly impressed by the efforts of the marina’s outgoing Managing Director, Nigel Skeggs, to improve environmental practices in Fiji. Nigel has also been actively involved in contributing to a new Environmental Code of Practice and Fiji’s Clean Boating Program.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel Resort Marina in the UAE 

Nigel said,

“Achieving Clean Marina and Fish Friendly Marina accreditation is very important for the marina and the wider community. The accreditation criteria provided a framework for us to plan and prioritise our infrastructure spending. In a fast developing marine tourism destination such as Fiji, it is important that marinas such as ours play a strong environmental leadership role. The Clean Marina program has provided important guidelines for us to provide this leadership. Our team is very proud of what we have achieved.”

MIA also recognized that the accreditation comes at an important time for Fiji as the Country Co-Chair of the Ocean Conference and Chair of the UN Conference of Parties dealing with Climate Change and Sustainable Innovation (COP23) later this year.

The Honourable Semi Koroilevesau said,

“As Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Champion, I wish to congratulate Port Denarau Marina on its recent achievements in receiving the Level 3 International Clean Marina and International Fish Friendly Marina accreditation status. Fiji’s Prime Minister will be Co-Chairing the Ocean Conference with Sweden in New York in June and we hope to include these achievements as a Voluntary Commitment to the Ocean Conference.”