The Pacific Community (SPC) delivered EUR46 million (US$53 million) in ocean-related projects across 20 Pacific Island countries and territories in 2025, strengthening fisheries management, marine conservation, ocean science and regional capacity to address growing ocean challenges.
SPC’s inaugural ‘Ocean Flagship Report 2025’ shows that the organisation implemented 105 ocean-related projects during the year, representing 32 percent of its total budget, with a combined project portfolio valued at EUR341 million (US$381 million) over their lifetimes.
The projects focused on five key areas: sustainable fisheries and ocean livelihoods, marine ecosystem protection, ocean safety and forecasting, ocean leadership and community engagement, and sustainable ocean financing.
SPC Director-General Dr Paula Vivili said the Ocean Flagship demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to supporting Pacific countries in protecting and sustainably managing their ocean resources.
“These results belong first and foremost to our members,” Dr Vivili said in the report.
The report said SPC’s ocean-related work benefited 20 Pacific countries and territories, trained 1,771 stakeholders, produced 103 technical and scientific papers and made more than 600 data and knowledge tools available to Pacific countries.
Under its productive ocean programme, SPC delivered 51 projects worth more than EUR25 million (US$27.97 million), supporting sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and marine-based livelihoods.
The report found that all four main Western and Central Pacific tuna stocks – South Pacific albacore, bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin – remained biologically healthy, with no overfishing occurring.
It also highlighted progress in fisheries management, including the adoption of a management procedure for South Pacific albacore at the 22nd meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in 2025.
In Fiji, seven sustainable small-scale coastal aquaculture enterprises were established through grants and technical assistance from SPC, while trials for small pelagic fish and baitfish were initiated.
Under its clean, healthy and resilient ocean programme, SPC delivered 32 projects worth more than EUR13 million (US$14.54 million).
Seven Pacific countries received direct assistance to develop national aquatic biosecurity plans to strengthen protection against aquatic diseases, invasive species and pathogens.
SPC also supported regional efforts to address marine pollution through the development of the Pacific One Maritime Framework, which was endorsed by regional ministers in May 2026.
The framework aims to improve maritime safety, security, capacity-building and equitable access to shipping while addressing threats from marine pollution, waste and litter.
For a safer and more predictable ocean, SPC delivered 47 projects worth more than EUR21 million (US$23.50 million), supporting ocean observation, forecasting, disaster preparedness and maritime transport.
Tonga, Cook Islands and Fiji improved their climate change and geospatial services through SPC technical assistance, while Fiji and Vanuatu strengthened disaster risk information for responding to seismic events.
Thirty-six scientists and technicians from 10 Pacific countries also improved their capacity to monitor ocean acidification and generate data to support international reporting.
The report further highlighted progress in securing Pacific maritime boundaries, with Fiji and Solomon Islands endorsing a joint extended continental shelf submission for the Melanesian Borderland Plateau.
Samoa and France, Tuvalu and Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands and Kiribati also signed maritime boundary treaties with SPC support.
On ocean leadership, 19 Early Career Ocean Professionals were placed in national ocean offices and related institutions in Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The placements included 14 women and five men, with three former participants subsequently securing permanent positions with their governments.
SPC also supported 10 Pacific countries in adopting or establishing national ocean policies or marine spatial plans, strengthening coordinated management of ocean resources.
On sustainable ocean financing, SPC secured more than EUR92 million (US$102.96 million) through over 10 new partnerships to support the region’s ocean priorities.
It also provided technical assistance to Pacific countries to access US$22.893 million in multilateral climate finance during 2025 and secured US$107.4 million for the Regional Tuna Programme.
However, the report acknowledged gaps in measuring the long-term impact of its ocean programmes, particularly in traditional knowledge and community engagement.
It said outcome data remained inconsistent or unavailable for several activities, making it difficult to fully assess the results of the organisation’s work.
SPC said future reporting would expand to include more divisions and improve how traditional knowledge, community participation and cross-divisional collaboration are measured.
The Ocean Flagship supports the implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and SPC’s Strategic Plan 2022–2031, with the broader goal of balancing the sustainable use of ocean resources with marine protection.
