As the world prepares for the largest annual climate summit in the coming months, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have reaffirmed their collective commitment to protecting and sustainably managing the Blue Pacific Ocean, calling for stronger global action to safeguard the region’s people, resources and future generations.
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders endorsed the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Ocean Statement at the recent 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau, laying out a unified regional agenda to strengthen advocacy and coordinated engagement across international processes on oceans, climate change, biodiversity, fisheries, pollution and sustainable development.
Guided by the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Forum Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and underscored the importance of Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge in ocean stewardship.
“For Pacific peoples, the ocean is far more than a resource. It is our identity, our heritage and our future. The decisions taken by Leaders in Palau reflect a shared determination to ensure Pacific voices continue to shape global action on oceans, climate and biodiversity,” said Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni.
Dr Manoni, who was reappointed by Forum Leaders to serve another three-year term as Pacific Ocean Commissioner, said Leaders were deeply concerned about the growing impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, overfishing and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. He noted that Pacific countries continue to play a vital role in supporting global climate stability, food security and marine biodiversity conservation.
Recognising the critical links between ocean health, climate action, and biodiversity conservation, Leaders called for urgent global action to keep the 1.5°C temperature goal within reach, address the impacts of sea-level rise, and accelerate implementation of international biodiversity and ocean commitments.
To strengthen regional leadership, Leaders committed to a Pacific Ocean Ministerial Meeting ahead of the Fourth United Nations Ocean Conference.
They also tasked the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) to coordinate regional preparations for the first Conference of the Parties to the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) in January 2027.
Leaders also encouraged continued mobilisation of financial and technical resources to support ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement across the region, ensuring Pacific priorities, sovereignty, and the special circumstances of Small Island Developing States are fully recognised.
The Statement further reinforces commitments to sustainable fisheries management, stronger action against IUU fishing, reduction of marine pollution, completion of maritime boundaries, investment in ocean science and innovation, and increased access to Pacific-led ocean finance that supports resilient and sustainable blue economic development.
Pacific Leaders reaffirmed their collective commitment to the sustainable management of 100 per cent of the Blue Pacific Ocean and called on the international community to partner with Pacific nations to safeguard the ocean for current and future generations.
Ocean Statement https://forumsec.org/publications/leaders-communique-55th-pacific-islands-forum-leaders-meeting
