Update: 12:19PM ENVIRONMENT officers from across the Pacific and the Forum Fisheries Agency will today discuss how best to phase out ozone depleting substances like hydro chloro fluoro carbons or HCFCs from fishing vessels and land-based storing facilities.

Vika Rogers, national coordinator ozone unit at the
Environment Department, said there were numerous challenges involved in
removing HCFCs from refrigeration facilities on ships due to engine vibration,
leakages and the high flammability of ozone-friendly replacement gases.

The meeting of these Pacific
island officials is taking place at
the Tokatoka Resort in Nadi.