United Nations Radio

Micronesians are increasingly turning to the sea to provide for their food and economic development.

President Emmanuel Mori says this comes at a time when the world food market is deeply affected by the food crisis.

He told the General Assembly it is therefore paramount that the country continues to conserve and manage its marine and fisheries resources in a sustainable manner.

"But the collateral catches and discards in commercial fisheries remains a concern to us. For Micronesians, these are critical resources that are of cultural importance and our people depend upon them for their subsistence living. The international community must find ways to minimize and eliminate this wasteful use of resources."

President Mori says equally damaging to the fish stocks are the incidence of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing -a practice which he says deprives Micronesians of their food resource.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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