President of the Fiji Beekeepers Association, Dr Muhammad Saiyad Riyaz Ud Dean among staff and students of the Fiji National University during the World Bee Day and World Ocean Day celebrations at the FNU Ba Campus yesterday. 

The Fiji National University’s (FNU) Ba Campus commemorated World Bee Day and World Ocean Day yesterday, further strengthening advocacy efforts towards environmental conservation and the protection of bees and marine ecosystems.

The occasion was also supported by the Ministry of Fisheries and the Fiji Beekeepers Association.

President of the Fiji Beekeepers Association (FBA), Dr Muhammad Saiyad Riyaz Ud Dean, emphasised the need to continue safeguarding our future while acknowledging the dedication of beekeepers and conservationists.

Dr Dean highlighted that at present, Fiji boasts over 1,200 beekeepers and more than 13,500 hives, producing over 250 tonnes of premium honey annually.

He said the FBA has proven that when people ‘bee together’, a small volunteer group can shape a multi-million-dollar sustainable sector.

​“When we talk about partnership and resilience, I am reminded of our own journey at the ​FBA, formed back in 1998. Like many small, volunteer-run organisations starting out, we had almost no funding and very few resources, but we had a clear mission – to represent Fiji’s beekeepers, improve industry conditions, and tackle the high failure rates of early rural apiculture projects,” he said.

2- President of the Fiji Beekeepers Association, Dr Muhammad Saiyad Riyaz Ud Dean visiting the Ministry of Fisheries booth yesterday.

​“We grew through unity by designing grassroots mentor programs, establishing rigorous education and training workshops, and securing vital international partnerships with organisations like PIFON (Pacific Farmer Organisations), ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research), and the UN’s (United Nation’s) International Fund for Agricultural Development, we turned a struggling pastime into a thriving, organised national industry.”

He is calling upon academic institutions, policymakers, and community leaders to take collective action and drive innovation and research and support sustainable agribusiness.

FNU’s College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF) Associate Dean TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training), Dr Ilisoni Leweniqila reiterated the celebration was also a reminder to the act that as individuals we need to advocate for the protection of our environment.

“We need to be advocating from now, it is not about job-seeking but about job-creating,” he said.

“There are deep connections within our ecosystem, once you understand how that cycle corelates you will know and you will believe how important it is to sustain and act in the way in which it will contribute to the ecosystem that we are living in.”

CAFF’s Diploma in Aquaculture (Level 5) student, Adi Francis Maisema, shared insights on the importance of World Ocean Day and why protecting the oceans was vital for future generations.

3- Students of FNU’s Ba Campus visited the Fiji Beekeepers Association booth yesterday educating themselves more about the good work the Association continues to do.

“Young people and communities also have a vital role to play. We can raise awareness, reduce plastic use, participate in clean-up campaigns, support sustainable fishing practices, and advocate for stronger environmental policies. Every small action matters. As students in aquaculture and environmental fields, we are the future custodians of our marine resources. It is our duty to protect and preserve them,” she said.