Fiji, June 8 -- As the world marked World Oceans Day, Pacific leaders have renewed calls for stronger global and regional action to protect marine ecosystems, warning that rising climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are placing increasing pressure on ocean health.

Vanuatu's Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management, Ralph Regenvanu, said the ocean is now central to global development conversations and must be treated as a shared responsibility across nations.

"The health of the oceans reflects the health of the people," he said, stressing that Pacific communities have long understood the ocean as both a source of life and identity.

He said the region is now ...