Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat said scientific data and information from an upcoming major expedition will help the government and the people better understand the state of the country’s ocean ecosystems.
Napat said this during the launching of the month-long expedition by the National Geographic vessel Argo to study Vanuatu’s ocean, which is facing threats from frequent cyclones, rising temperatures, and overfishing.
The expedition will document the ocean’s stunning biodiversity, geology, providing data for the nation’s marine spatial planning efforts.
“I take ocean management very seriously for my nation. Our sovereign territory is 98 percent ocean and we are ‘solwara’ people, “said the PM.
“The scientific data and information that Pristine Seas will provide for Vanuatu through the upcoming expedition will enable us to know clearly the state of our ocean ecosystems and the extent of biodiversity loss.’’
A team of experts from Vanuatu and around the globe will work aboard the Argo, a ship equipped with cutting-edge technology for exploration, research and filmmaking.
Crew members will gather data about the marine ecosystems surrounding Vanuatu’s 80-plus islands, which are home to a stunning variety of coral reefs, mangrove forests, deep-sea habitats, and seabird colonies.
One species the researchers hope to document on their expedition is the dugong, or sea cow, known locally as cowfis.
These relatives of the manatee graze on sea grass, and their presence can indicate an area’s health.
In addition to filling gaps in data requested by the government, Pristine Seas which will explore from nearshore to offshore, and from shallow water to deep will create a documentary film highlighting local communities’ special relationship with the sea.
“Our expedition aims to combine traditional knowledge with contemporary science to paint a picture of Vanuatu’s ocean, with an eye on protecting.
“Vanuatu is already a leader in fighting climate change, so we’re excited to be here working with local experts who know the ocean so intimately,” said Pristine Seas’ expedition leader, remarked Paul Rose.
Pristine Seas’ submersible, the Argonauta, will enable team members and policymakers to explore the deep sea.
An underwater science lab, the sub can dive down to 1,300 meters, so researchers can study underwater life in real-time.
Attached to the sub are filters for environmental DNA sampling, a method that allows scientists to collect small bits of matter that can later be sequenced to identify organisms not always seen with cameras or the naked eye.
Data collected with these tools help leaders make decisions about what parts of the ocean to protect.
“As the first nation in the Pacific to enact a national ocean policy, Vanuatu has a solid vision for ocean conservation committing to the full protection of 30 per cent of its ocean space by 2030,” Pristine Seas Melanesia Policy Lead, Mia Rimon.
“In remote provinces that are heavily dependent on marine resources for food, nutrition security and income, people want to know why their fish resources are declining. Why their coral reefs are dying. Ni Vanuatu people are ocean people and they want solutions to heal and revive their marine space while they still can.”
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a proven solution for countries looking to conserve their ocean. Reserves where fishing and other damaging activities are banned restore marine life within their boundaries.
That, in turn, replenishes nearby fish populations and improves local fishing, provides jobs and economic benefits, and builds resilience against a warming ocean.
Vanuatu has used traditional fisheries management including Tabu areas for thousands of years as part of its intact chiefly system and is home to a network of community-led protected areas.
One example is the Nguna-Pele Marine and Land Protected Area Network, founded in 2002 by four traditional chiefs. Together, sixteen indigenous communities on the islands of Nguna and Pele manage and sustainably use 3,000 hectares of marine and land ecostems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests.
PM Napat said that he is gravely concerned with the continued decline of our ocean health caused by climate change, overfishing and population growth.
“Together with Pristine Seas, our partners and all of our government ministries, we are working toward establishment of large Marine Protected Areas to enable our Solwara to revive and recover, to ensure that our people will have access to abundant marine resources to support our lives for all future generations of Ni Vanuatu.” he said.
From Shallow to Deep Among other areas, the expedition team will study Torba the northernmost and least populated province of Vanuatu, which consists of large steep-sided volcanic islands and low lying atolls.
The expedition will also explore the waters of Shefa Province, which includes the Kuwae Crater and Tongoa Wall, a submerged volcano, vents, seabird colonies, and coral reefs.
“Vanuatu’s oceans hold some of the most extraordinary marine biodiversity in the Pacific from volcanic seascapes and deep sea mysteries waiting to be discovered to vibrant coral reefs and the species and communities that depend on them.
“Together with local scientists, we hope to support Vanuatu’s vision for a healthy ocean future that protects biodiversity, sustains livelihoods, and inspires the next generation of ocean stewards.” said Lindsay Young, Pristine Seas’ Vice President of Research.
Pristine Seas will host youth aboard the Argo to learn about the tools used by marine scientists and filmmakers and is co-developing a program for twelve young people in Laone Village, Pentecost, alongside National Geographic Photo Camp.
In addition to providing a meaningful introduction to storytelling through photography and writing, with mentorship from National Geographic Explorers and local photographers, the engagement will focus on documenting traditional and local knowledge of marine conservation from community elders.
The expedition launch comes shortly after the July 2025 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which was requested by Vanuatu in collaboration with other nations.
The expedition is being conducted in partnership with Blue Prosperity Vanuatu; the Vanuatu Ministry of Fisheries, Oceans and Maritime Affairs; and the Vanuatu Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster.
