Fiji, Sept. 2 -- Palau Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, Steven Victor says stronger regional monitoring and surveillance is essential to protect Pacific fisheries and the economies that depend on them, warning that individual island countries cannot detect every activity taking place across their vast waters.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Forum Fisheries Agency side event, Securing Our Blue Pacific: Integrated Monitoring, Control and Surveillance and the Future of the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre," Victor said protecting the ocean was ultimately about protecting livelihoods and prosperity.

"Why do we care so much about securing a vast ocean when many of us don't really get to see what's happe...