AT the close of the 5th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival in Suva, the screening of Oceans with David Attenborough sparked a vital conversation on the urgent need to protect our oceans. It was the panel discussion afterward, featuring key Pacific voices, which brought a clear call for action rooted in local knowledge and long-term strategy.
Soapi, Coordinator of the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science, opened the discussion by sharing her deep personal connection to the ocean. “The film was a rollercoaster of emotions,” she said. Having spent years as a marine natural products researcher and diver, Soapi spoke of the ocean’s mysterious beauty and medicinal potential. But she also expressed sadness and frustration at seeing destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling.
