France has thrown its support behind Melanesian efforts to protect the Pacific Ocean, with French Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Pierre Fournier telling leaders at the the Melanesian Ocean Summit that the Pacific will play a decisive role in implementing global ocean commitments.
Speaking at the summit in Port Moresby, Fournier said France remains committed to the preservation of the ocean and backed stronger regional cooperation on marine protection, fisheries management and maritime security.
“Our joint action to reverse the dreadful degradation of the health of the ocean with our joint commitment to protect at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, and the adoption of the High Seas treaty, or BBNJ agreement, are a true testimony of our contribution to the protection of more than half of the planet,” he said.
Fournier linked the summit’s discussions to outcomes from the 3rd UN Ocean Conference held in Nice in June 2025, where France co-hosted the gathering alongside Costa Rica.
He said the conference produced the Nice Ocean Action Plan, which included political commitments and voluntary actions that would have significant impact in the Pacific region.
“And the Pacific, with the biggest Ocean, has the biggest impact on the implementation of this outcome,” he said.
The French envoy also highlighted the importance of ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, saying it would strengthen efforts to protect high seas biodiversity and support regional marine corridor initiatives being promoted by Pacific countries.
Fournier said France was investing heavily in the Pacific through its territories of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna, which together manage an Exclusive Economic Zone of 6.5 million square kilometres.
“France is a major contributor to the sustainability, prosperity and security of the Region,” he said.
He outlined France’s regional support through fisheries surveillance, maritime monitoring and humanitarian operations, including support to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) through naval deployments and patrol aircraft operations.
“France’s continuous support to FFA by deploying navy vessels and patrol aircrafts in FFA operations represent an average of 130 days at sea and 50 hours of flight time each year, with a cost of 2 million euros per year,” he said.
Fournier said France’s Pacific territories were also expanding marine protected areas, pointing to French Polynesia’s declaration of its entire 5 million square kilometre EEZ as a marine protected area and New Caledonia’s 50-year moratorium on seabed mineral exploration and exploitation.
“With such proactive local public policies, the monitoring and oversight measures implemented by the government in this context, and France’s four-pronged regional strategy, the Pacific can count on us,” he said.
The Ambassador also reaffirmed France’s commitment to regional security cooperation, climate action and multilateralism.
“France, a permanent member of the Security Council, is both your friend and your neighbour,” Fournier said.
“We share the same vision; we share the same values. You can count on us,” he said.
