Very fishy: Australia fails to see ocean for the fish

The world has come together at the Rio+20 Summit on sustainable development to decide our future and Australia is travelling under the banner of "Champion of the 'Blue Economy'".

For the people of the Pacific, developed and developing alike, it is not a moment too soon.

The 'Blue Economy' is a concept which calls for sustainable ocean management to be at the basis of economic development. The Pacific Region has high hopes for its acceptance, given their deep relationship with the ocean.

In a report by the Center for Ocean Solutions, the Pacific Islands were identified as vulnerable to threats such as pollution, habitat destruction, climate change and ocean acidification.

These impacts will also affect the developed nations of Australia and New Zealand.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr acknowledged these concerns, focusing on island states as befitting Australia's self-proclaimed role as champion.

"Small island developing states live most directly with the disastrous reality of climate change," Senator Carr said.

Yet Australia's plan of action reeks suspiciously of fish.

Four out of Australia's six original desired Rio+20 oceans outcomes relate to fisheries. There was little mention of other important marine issues such as ocean acidification and coral reef protection.

One government spokesperson denied that this prioritisation of fisheries had come at the cost of other issues. However, another government spokesperson admitted that this focus was purely for tactical reasons.

Much of Australia's participation in collaborative regional activities are also fish-related.

In 2011, for example, the Australian army and border security services were part of the largest regional monitoring and surveillance operation of fisheries in the Pacific region, where fisheries are an important source of income.