Fiji assesses coral reefs for sustainable future
Suva, Oct 4: The first-ever nationwide assessment of Fiji’s coral reefs has been completed covering 282 locations in efforts to ensure the ocean is healthy for future generations, a Ministry of Fisheries official said on Wednesday. Principal Fisheries Officer Saras Sharma said the collaboration between government ministries, the Waitt Institute, and a host of non-governmental organisations, communities, and international scientists aims to improve understanding of coral reef conditions and to better manage ocean resources, reports Xinhua news agency. Waitt Institute Director of Science Andy Estep said the objective of the nationwide expedition is to garner answers about how much resources Fiji has, whether they are protected, and whether there will be enough in the future. “So we won’t have the answers now, but what we have established is a strong baseline across the entire country that is built on the work that is being done in the country.” The expedition’s primary investigator and renowned marine academic, Joeli Veitayaki, said the information gathered will not only be used for scientific research but will also be readily available for stakeholders to make informed decisions. “The bulk of our food, particularly for coastal dwellers, comes from the sea, and it is important that, as we enjoy these provisions from the ocean, we are mindful of their state,” Veitayaki said. (IANS)
Chicago woman, 104, skydives from plane
OTTAWA, Oct 4: A 104-year-old Chicago woman is hoping to be certified as the oldest person to ever skydive after leaving her walker on the ground and making a tandem jump in northern Illinois. “Age is just a number,” Dorothy Hoffner told a cheering crowd moments after touching the ground Sunday at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, about 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of Chicago, the Chicago Tribune reported. The Guinness World Record for oldest skydiver was set in May 2022 by 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson from Sweden. But Skydive Chicago is working to have Guinness World Records certify Hoffner’s jump as a record, WLS-TV reported. Hoffner first skydived when she was 100. On Sunday, she left her walker behind just short of the plane – a Skyvan – and was helped up the steps to join the others waiting inside to skydive. (AP)
