Melanesian Ocean Summit – Plenary 1: Ocean Leaders’ Pledges, Commitments and Ambitions National Address

Salutations

Excellencies,
Honourable Leaders,
Ministers,
Heads of Delegation,
Representatives of regional and international organisations,
Traditional leaders,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Ni Sa Bula Vinaka

Introduction

1. It is an honour to join my fellow leaders at this historic Melanesian Ocean Summit. I extend my sincere appreciation to Prime Minister James Marape, the Government, and the people of Papua New Guinea for convening this important gathering at a time when our collective stewardship of the Pacific Ocean has never been more critical.
2. Fiji comes to this Summit as a Large Ocean State, with the ocean not only surrounding us, but shaping who we are as a people, as an economy, and as a nation. For Fiji, the ocean is not simply a resource. It is our food security, our climate shield, our transport corridor, our culture, our identity, and our inheritance.
3. Today, we are not merely discussing oceans — we are shaping the future of our region. As custodians of one of the largest and most significant oceanic regions on Earth, the responsibility rests with us to ensure that our ocean remains a source of life, resilience, prosperity, and peace for generations to come.

Ocean of Peace – A Unifying Regional Vision

4. Fiji remains firmly anchored in the vision of an Ocean of Peace — a Pacific where our waters are not arenas of contest, but spaces of cooperation; not zones of unsustainable extraction, but domains of stewardship; and not sources of division, but foundations of unity and shared prosperity.
5. In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical uncertainty and strategic competition, the Pacific must continue to assert its identity as a region of stability, solidarity, and collective purpose. Our strength lies not in isolation, but in regionalism — in acting together, speaking with one voice, and advancing solutions grounded in our values, cultures, and shared interests.
6. Our greatest challenges are not with one another. They are climate change, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, biodiversity loss, economic vulnerability, maritime insecurity, and the increasing pressures placed upon our ecosystems and communities. These are the defining challenges of our time, and they demand a united regional response.
7. Fiji’s ocean priorities therefore strongly align with the Ocean of Peace concept, recognising the ocean as a space for peace, cooperation, stability, shared prosperity, and regional solidarity. For Melanesia especially, this message carries profound significance because our ocean connects our islands, our cultures, our economies, and our collective future.

Fiji’s National Ocean Governance Framework

8. Fiji’s national approach to ocean governance is anchored in the National Ocean Policy, approved by Cabinet in January 2021. This remains Fiji’s premier framework for sustainable ocean governance and sets out seven integrated goals to guide implementation: Cooperation, Sustainability, Security, People, Development, Knowledge, and Advocacy.
9. These priorities are not pursued in isolation. They are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, recognising that ocean health, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, national security, livelihoods, food security, and sustainable economic development must all advance together.
10. This commitment was further strengthened through Fiji’s Climate Change Act 2021. Part XIII of the Act focuses specifically on Oceans and Climate Change and establishes Fiji’s long-term ocean sustainability targets.
11. Through this legislation, Fiji has committed to ensuring that 100 per cent of our ocean spaces are sustainably and effectively managed, with 30 per cent designated as Marine Protected Areas by 2030. This commitment applies across Fiji’s internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial seas, contiguous zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone.
12. Stewardship requires leadership and decisive action. As a major milestone towards our 30 by 30 commitment, Fiji intends to designate up to 15 per cent of our waters as Marine Protected Areas by the end of 2026, alongside a credible national roadmap to achieve the full target by 2030.
13. This is not simply about meeting an international target. It is about safeguarding ecosystem resilience, ensuring the sustainability of fisheries, strengthening climate adaptation, protecting biodiversity, and securing the long-term wellbeing of our people and future generations.
14. Fiji recognises that effective marine protection must be supported by strong enforcement systems, scientific evidence, traditional knowledge, community ownership, sustainable financing, and viable economic alternatives for coastal communities.

Marine Spatial Planning and Blue Prosperity Fiji

15. Work towards these commitments, including the development of Fiji’s Marine Spatial Plan, is progressing well and is coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister together with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Fisheries and Forest.
16. This is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society initiative designed to bring coherence to how Fiji manages its ocean space, balances development and conservation priorities, strengthens maritime domain awareness, and ensures that decisions are guided by science, traditional knowledge, community priorities, and long-term national interests.
17. Fiji’s Marine Spatial Planning process will establish the legal and policy foundation necessary to create an integrated network of Marine Protected Areas, sustainably coordinate ocean uses, strengthen ecosystem resilience, improve ocean governance, and support the growth of an inclusive and resilient blue economy.
18. The process is being supported through extensive collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Ministry of Land and Mineral Resourses, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, academia, development partners, communities, and technical experts, reflecting Fiji’s commitment to an integrated national ocean governance framework.

Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves – From Vision to Action

19. Fiji commends the vision of the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves, or MOCOR. This initiative represents a bold and timely step forward, recognising that our oceans do not end at national boundaries, and that our stewardship responsibilities must therefore extend across them.
20. MOCOR is more than a conservation initiative. It is a platform for Melanesian integration — aligning efforts in ocean governance, strengthening cooperation in monitoring and enforcement, advancing science and research, supporting climate resilience, and unlocking new opportunities in sustainable blue economies.
21. For Fiji, MOCOR aligns closely with our national and regional priorities. We view it as a practical expression of the Ocean of Peace concept — where cooperation, trust, solidarity, and shared responsibility guide our collective actions.
22. Fiji also supports ongoing discussions under MOCOR to explore sustainable ocean financing mechanisms that can mobilise long-term investment into marine protection, adaptation, resilience-building, ocean science, and sustainable livelihoods across Melanesia.

Sustainable Ocean Economies and Blue Growth

23. Ocean protection and economic development are not competing priorities — they are mutually reinforcing. A healthy ocean is fundamental to resilient economies, sustainable livelihoods, food security, and long-term prosperity.
24. Fiji therefore stands ready to work with our Melanesian brothers and sisters to advance a coordinated blue economy agenda, including:
25. Developing a regional beche-de-mer strategy combining aquaculture, sustainable harvesting, and value-added processing;
26. Expanding opportunities across sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, eco-tourism, and marine biotechnology;

• Strengthening regional supply chains to position Melanesia as a leading supplier of sustainable tropical seafood; and

1. Advancing innovative ocean industries that support resilience, climate adaptation, and economic diversification.
2. Fiji has also recently secured Cabinet approval of Fiji’s Blue Economy Framework, which provides an important platform to better align ocean-based economic opportunities with sustainability, resilience, climate adaptation, and national development priorities under the National Development Plan and Vision 2050.
3. Fiji is further advancing work on a National Ocean Accounting System in partnership with the Fiji Bureau of Statistics to better understand the economic, environmental, social, and cultural value of our ocean ecosystems, resources, and services.

Ocean Science, Research and Knowledge Sovereignty

27. Our decisions must be guided by knowledge — both traditional wisdom and modern science.
28. Fiji strongly supports the establishment of a Melanesian Ocean Research and Resilience Network under MOCOR to strengthen regional research capacity, deepen ocean science cooperation, improve data-sharing, support evidence-based decision-making, and equip future generations to lead ocean governance in our region.
29. Fiji continues to work closely with universities, regional organisations, scientific institutions, development partners, and local communities to strengthen ocean science, biodiversity assessments, climate data systems, ecosystem mapping, and marine research capacity.
30. This is ultimately about securing knowledge sovereignty — ensuring that decisions about our ocean are informed by our people, our institutions, our science, our traditional knowledge systems, and our regional priorities.

Monitoring, Surveillance and Maritime Security

31. Effective ocean governance also requires strong monitoring, surveillance, compliance, and maritime security systems.
32. Fiji continues to strengthen cooperation between the Fiji Navy Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, regional fisheries agencies, and international partners to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, transnational crime, and other illicit activities within our maritime zones.
33. Strengthening maritime domain awareness, ocean surveillance systems, and regional cooperation mechanisms remains essential to protecting marine biodiversity, safeguarding sovereign rights, supporting lawful ocean use, and ensuring long-term ocean sustainability.

Melanesia Blue Shipping Initiative

34. Excellencies, no discussion on the blue economy is complete without addressing shipping and connectivity — the lifeline of our region.
35. Progress on maritime decarbonisation remains too slow. Our people continue to face high transport costs, limited connectivity, and ageing maritime infrastructure.
36. Fiji therefore proposes that we collectively advance a Melanesia Blue Shipping Initiative with three immediate priorities:
37. Designing a new generation of Blue Ferries tailored to the realities and needs of Pacific Island countries;
38. Developing a joint financing strategy with domestic, regional, and international partners; and

• Undertaking a regional feasibility study within the next 12 months to guide implementation and long-term sustainability.

37. This initiative has the potential to transform connectivity across Melanesia by reducing emissions, lowering transport costs, strengthening regional trade, improving resilience, and deepening economic integration.
38. Our ocean connects us. Our shipping systems must reflect that reality.

Fiji’s Regional and Global Ocean Leadership

39. Fiji also continues to lead beyond its national waters. At the regional and global levels, Fiji has remained a strong advocate for ambitious, practical, and inclusive ocean and climate action.
40. This includes Fiji’s role as an Alliance of Small Island States Ocean Champion, Co-Facilitator for the 2026 UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, Pre-COP31 Pacific Envoy for Oceans, and active contributor to the United Nations Ocean Conference, Sustainable Development Goal 14, the UNFCCC process, and the Paris Agreement.
41. Fiji also ratified the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction — the BBNJ Agreement — during the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in France in 2025.
42. This was a significant milestone for Fiji and the Pacific, reaffirming our commitment to protecting biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and strengthening the global governance framework for the high seas.
43. Fiji’s continued engagement in the BBNJ Preparatory Commission further demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that implementation of the Agreement remains fair, inclusive, science-based, and responsive to the needs and capacities of Small Island Developing States.

Climate Leadership and Global Engagement

44. As we look ahead, the Pacific will once again take centre stage in global climate leadership.
45. With Pre-COP31 to be hosted by Fiji, Tuvalu, and Australia, and COP31 to follow in Antalya, we have an important opportunity to demonstrate that our region is not only vulnerable to climate impacts, but is also leading global solutions.
46. The commitments we make here — on marine protection, ocean finance, sustainable blue economies, science, resilience, adaptation, and blue shipping — must be elevated onto the global stage.
47. We must demonstrate that the Pacific is taking decisive action to strengthen resilience, advance adaptation, implement ambitious climate action, and protect the global ocean for the benefit of all humanity.

A Collective Ambition for Melanesia and the Pacific

48. Excellencies, this Summit represents more than dialogue. It represents direction:
49. A direction where our ocean is protected through collective stewardship;
50. A direction where our economies are strengthened through sustainable use; and

• A direction where our region stands united in peace, solidarity, and shared purpose.

49. Let us be clear — our ambition is not small. We seek a thriving, secure, and peaceful Blue Pacific where Melanesia stands at the forefront of global ocean leadership.
50. Ocean governance is a cross-cutting national and regional priority. It cannot be delivered by one ministry, one sector, or one community alone. It requires coordination across governments, partnership with traditional leaders and communities, engagement with the private sector, and strong cooperation with regional and international partners.
51. Fiji therefore stands ready to work closely with Melanesian partners to strengthen ocean governance, protect marine biodiversity, advance sustainable blue economies, deepen scientific cooperation, strengthen maritime security, and ensure that our ocean remains a source of life, peace, and prosperity for generations to come.

Conclusion

52. Prime Minister Marape, fellow leaders, the commitments we make today will define the legacy we leave for our people.
53. Let us move forward with unity, resolve, and a shared vision:
54. A vision of an Ocean of Peace;
55. A vision of sustainable and prosperous ocean states; and

• A vision of a strong, united Melanesia within a resilient Blue Pacific Continent.

54. Our responsibility is clear: to protect the ocean that has protected us, to manage it wisely, and to ensure that future generations inherit a healthy, secure, resilient, and thriving Blue Pacific.
55. Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.