Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to finalising all outstanding maritime boundaries and continental shelf submissions, calling the move critical to protecting sovereignty and resources in the face of rising seas.
“Leaders reaffirmed their collective commitment to urgently conclude all outstanding maritime boundaries delimitations and continental shelf submissions.
Leaders reaffirmed this decisive action is crucial to securing the full legal certainty and permanence of our maritime zones in perpetuity, in the face of the existential threat posed by climate change-related sea-level rise. Leaders emphasised that this would safeguard the region’s sovereign rights, protect ocean resources, and secure the Blue Pacific Continent for Pacific peoples and for all generations to come,” the communique states.
Forum Leaders commended the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Marshall Islands, and Palau for successfully signing amended treaties on maritime boundaries.
They also urged members to embed the 2021 Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones into domestic agreements and legislation.
But significant disputes remain unresolved across the Pacific.
Fiji and Tonga continue to contest ownership of the Minerva Reefs, while Fiji and Vanuatu have an unsettled boundary in the Torres Islands area.
Vanuatu and New Caledonia (France) also face overlapping claims, and Tokelau’s boundaries with both Samoa and American Samoa remain unfinalised. These cases underline the urgency of Leaders’ call for action.
Leaders said the region faces converging ocean challenges, from overfishing and biodiversity loss to plastic pollution, and stressed the need for unity and coordinated regional action.
“Leaders welcomed the update on the progress of work on the Ocean and Environment Thematic Area and noted the outcomes of the various meetings such as the Pacific Ocean Ministers Preparatory Meeting for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), UNOC3, and the ongoing work on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction(BBNJ).
“Leaders encouraged the timely ratification of the BBNJ Treaty by all signatories of the agreement,” the communique states.
On plastics, Leaders reiterated their backing for a binding global treaty to regulate the full life cycle of plastics, from production to waste.
Leaders also welcomed the High-Level Talanoa on deep-sea minerals and supported a member-led regional approach to guide future work, directing officials to draw up an implementation plan for further consideration.
“Leaders considered and supported the proposed member led regional approach to DSM, as endorsed by FOC, and directed the FOC to develop an appropriate implementation plan for consideration by Forum Leaders, inter-sessionally,” the communique said.
