BY NED GAGAHE
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has called on Pacific nations to take decisive and united action to finalise the region’s remaining maritime boundaries and push forward with the goal of achieving 100 percent ocean management.
Speaking at a high-level sideline event on maritime boundary and ocean management during the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) yesterday, Prime Minister Manele described the occasion as a celebration of Pacific solidarity and progress, anchored in both ancestral knowledge and international law.
“Today, we celebrate Pacific leadership rooted in culture, sovereignty, and collective action as we secure the future of our Blue Pacific Continent,” said Prime Minister Manele.
According to Manele, the Pacific has already settled 36 of its 48 shared maritime boundaries, representing 75 percent completion.
However, he warned that the 12 remaining boundaries and 19 pending Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) submissions must be addressed with urgency.
“While this demonstrates Pacific leadership in ocean diplomacy, the remaining boundaries still present risks to sovereign rights, resource management, and our Blue Pacific vision,” he said.
Manele emphasised the importance of both regional cooperation and grassroots engagement in achieving sustainable ocean management.
He welcomed the participation of provincial leaders from Torba Province (Vanuatu) and Temotu Province (Solomon Islands), commending their collaboration under the Motalava Boundary Treaty and Tirvau Agreement as a model for how local leadership can contribute to international outcomes.
“Their collaboration stands as a powerful example of partnership and what ocean management looks like in practice,” Manele noted.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the critical role played by the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) in providing technical and legal support to countries across the region.
In his remarks, PM Manele extended appreciation to international development partners—including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union—for their continued support in advancing maritime boundary delimitation and capacity building across the region.
“Your support has been instrumental to our efforts,” he said, urging partners to remain engaged as the region moves toward full ocean governance.
Prime Minister Manele took the opportunity to congratulate the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Kiribati on the ratification of their bilateral maritime boundary treaty—a milestone he said underscores the region’s commitment to international law and ocean sovereignty.
As Pacific nations advocate globally for the recognition and preservation of their maritime rights in the face of climate change and sea level rise, PM Manele said it is vital that countries lead by example and finalise their own outstanding boundaries.
“Let today be a celebration of progress, partnership, and Pacific solidarity,” he concluded. “Now is the time to act decisively and finish the task we started together.”
The high-level sideline event featured keynote speeches from Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, SPC Director General Dr. Stuart Minchin, and Deputy Director for the Ocean and Maritime Programme Mr. Jens Kruger, Premier of Temotu Province Stanley Tehiahua, and concluded with closing remarks from Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr. Filimon Manoni.
