Australia will commit $33 million to help developing countries in the Asia-Pacific sustainably manage their oceans, fisheries and coasts.
Speaking at a Blue Economy event co-hosted by the President of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Grenada, the Prime Minister said that oceans were an important part of sustainable discussions here in Brazil.
We have a large stake in the Blue Economy. It is our livelihood and our culture.
Protecting the world´s oceans has been a major focus of Australia´s contribution to the Rio summit.
That's why we will provide up to $25 million over four years to help Pacific Island countries address illegal fishing and minimise the destruction of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Australia will also commit $8 million to the Coral Triangle Initiative to help our neighbours such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste protect native species and sustainably manage marine and coastal resources.
More than 1.5 billion people in developing countries rely on marine resources for their protein intake, and fisheries support 170 million jobs world-wide.
And yet these pressures impact on the people and communities that are most vulnerable, such as those in small island states.
Australia will also work with the World Bank to help shape its new Global Partnership on Oceans.
This new partnership will address threats to the health, productivity and resilience of the world's oceans.