Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua was pleased to meet with the Growing Oceans team, a non-profit research initiative focused on understanding how ocean microbes fix atmospheric nitrogen in warm oceans. The Growing Oceans science collaborative is led by Dr. Seth John, a professor at the University of Southern California.

Nitrogen fixation is a vital ecosystem process that supports ocean food webs and enhances the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Through studying these natural processes, the initiative aims to support biodiversity while strengthening the ocean’s capacity to safely store carbon at scale.

This work is of particular importance to Tonga, as it supports the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect our marine environment and address the impacts of climate change.

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Naʻe fiefia ʻa e ‘Eiki Palemia Lord Fakafanua ke feʻiloaki mo e timi Growing Oceans, ko ha polokalama fakatotolo ʻoku ʻikai taumu’a fakatupu paʻanga ka ʻoku fakatefito ʻi he fakatotolo ki he founga ʻoku hanga ai ʻe he fanga ki’i me’amo’ui iiki ʻo e ʻoseni ʻo fakaleleiʻi ʻa e kasa naitoloseni (nitrogen) ʻi he ʻoseni ‘oku mafana. ʻOku taki ʻa e fengaueʻaki fakasaienisi ʻa e Growing Oceans ʻe Dr. Seth John, ko ha palofesa ʻi he ʻUnivesiti ʻo Southern California.

Ko e founga ngaue ki hono ngaue’aki ‘o e kasa naitoloseni ko ha founga mahuʻinga ia ʻo e ʻatakai ʻoku ne poupouʻi ʻa e ngaahi kupenga meʻakai ʻo e tahi mo fakalahi ʻa e malava ʻa e tahi ke mimisi ʻa e kaponi taiokisaiti. ʻI hono siofi ʻo e ngaahi founga fakanatula ko ʻeni, ʻoku fakataumuʻa ʻa e polokalama ke poupouʻi ʻa e ngaahi meʻa kehekehe lolotonga hono fakamalohia ʻa e malava ʻa e ʻoseni ke tauhi malu ʻa e kaponi ʻi he meʻafua ko ʻeni.

ʻOku matuʻaki mahuʻinga ʻa e ngaue ko ʻeni ki Tonga, he ʻoku ne poupouʻi ʻa e ngaahi ngaue hokohoko ʻa e Puleʻanga ke maluʻi hotau ʻatakai ‘i tahi mo tokangaekina ʻa e ngaahi nunuʻa ʻo e feliuliuaki ʻo e ʻea.