Pacific officials tell conference safeguarding the ocean is vital

Pacific officials at the COP15 Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada say they want to safeguard the Pacific Ocean as well as island biodiversity.

Officials from the United Nations and 13 Pacific states are at the conference to speak out during negotiations of the Global Environment Facility.

The facility provides funds to combat climate issues, ocean biodiversity, and tackle the issue of marine plastic waste.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme director general, Sefanaia Nawadra, said the Pacific's unique island diversity is under threat.

"We, from the Pacific, obviously want to strengthen the ocean and island biodiversity. It's not only the importance of the ocean but also island diversity being some of the most threatened and some of the most unique because of the small size and isolation."

The conference continues until Monday.