Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers are calling for urgent action to protect fisheries, strengthen ocean governance and secure maritime boundaries as Pacific countries face rising pressure from climate change, fuel costs and sea-level rise.
The Ministers called for Leaders to reaffirm the critical importance of fisheries and aquaculture to Pacific prosperity, food security, livelihoods, culture, economies, sovereignty and ocean stewardship.
The call was made at the 2026 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Suva last Friday, where Ministers reviewed progress on regional ocean initiatives and strengthened advocacy on Pacific Ocean priorities.
Ministers supported the Vakamanu Regional Pacific Fisheries Strategy 2026–2035 for consideration by Forum Leaders as the region’s new overarching fisheries and aquaculture policy framework.
They stressed the need for equitable and sustainable management of Pacific fisheries resources, protection of Members’ fisheries rights and Member-led implementation.
Ministers reaffirmed the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development as the region’s principal framework for advancing economic integration, strengthening resilience and delivering tangible benefits to Forum Island countries.
They welcomed progress on cross-sectoral initiatives, including climate and disaster risk finance and fisheries development.
Ministers supported a phased, Member-led approach to further consideration of the Regional Fisheries Development Fund Feasibility Technical Assessment and wider East New Britain Initiative work.
The approach will be informed by the FFA East New Britain Initiative Working Group and aims to maximise sustainable economic returns from Pacific fisheries.
Ministers stressed that the work must ensure national ownership, economic accountability, equitable access and sustainability while remaining aligned with existing fisheries governance and financing arrangements.
Ministers also raised concerns over the economic and food-security risks posed by sustained fuel-price pressures, El Niño conditions and other external shocks.
They tasked Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) agencies to monitor these risks and provide timely advice to Members through the Regional Response Mechanism when risks escalate.
Ministers tasked the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) to convene regional preparatory meetings in the fourth quarter of 2026 ahead of the first Conference of Parties to the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).
The meetings will also prepare the region for subsequent BBNJ COPs and support resource mobilisation and joint funding initiatives for implementation of the agreement in the Pacific.
Forum Foreign Ministers welcomed the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Ocean Statement and agreed to finalise it out of session before submitting it to Leaders for consideration at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
They also commended stronger collaboration across the regional system on ocean matters under the leadership of OPOC.
Ministers reaffirmed support for an integrated ocean governance approach under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Ministers also noted an update from the Marshall Islands on the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP).
Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu signed the PBSP Charter on 12 June 2026.
The partnership formally commits the countries to work together on shipping decarbonisation, backed by the Green Climate Fund.
The Ministers welcomed the establishment of the partnership and its focus on reducing emissions from Pacific shipping.
The Ministers also called for urgent progress on outstanding maritime boundaries.
They urged Forum Members to conclude pending maritime boundary delimitation treaties, bring existing treaties into force and deposit relevant coordinates and charts with the United Nations.
The Ministers said completing the process was necessary to provide legal certainty and stability for Pacific countries as sea levels rise.
The call reflects growing concern that climate-driven sea-level rise could create uncertainty around maritime zones and the rights of Pacific Island states.
The Ministers’ outcomes will now feed into preparations for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
