The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on Tuesday called for an integrated oceans management in order to achieve international goals for the ocean environment.

Jim McLay, permanent representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, made the remarks on behalf of PIF while addressing the General Assembly in a plenary meeting on oceans and the law of the seas.

"We must achieve relevant international goals to contribute to the health and vitality of the ocean environment, including the global network of marine protected areas agreed at Rio+10," McLay said.

Citing the Pacific Oceanscape as a model, McLay said it can help towards an integrated oceans management.

The Pacific Oceanscape created in 2010 is aimed to address all ocean issues from governance to climate change and represent the Pacific on ocean conservation and management.

McLay listed a number of pressing threats to the ocean environment, such as ocean acidification, pollution and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

"To ensure that Rio+20 includes strong outcomes on the conservation and sustainable management of marine ecosystems and resources outcomes that reflect the needs of Pacific region, PIF leaders called for the maximization of returns to Pacific states from the conservation and sustainable management of their ocean resources," McLay said.

The world's oceans, which account for about 70 percent of the Earth's surface, are facing diverse challenges ranging from depleted fishery resources to the impacts of climate change, deterioration of the marine environment, to issues of maritime safety and security, labor conditions for seafarers and the increasingly important issue of migration by sea.

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