Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Mr Baron Waqa delivering welcome remarks at the Ocean Ministers Meeting
PACIFIC OCEAN MINISTERS PREPARATORY MEETING TOWARDS THE 3RD UNITED NATIONS OCEANS CONFERENCE
Thursday 10 April
Library, PIFS
- Prime Minister of Tuvalu and PSIDS Chair, Feleti Teo
- PIF Chair Representative and Chief Secretary to the Prime Ministers Office of the Kingdom of Tonga, Mr. Paula Ma’u
- UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Mr Peter Thompson
- Honourable Ministers
- Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Filimon Manoni
- Excellencies and Senior Officials
- Distinguished Delegates, Partners, and Friends of the Blue Pacific
Omo Yoran, Bula Vinaka, and Welcome.
It is my honour to warmly welcome you all to this important Pacific Ocean Ministers Preparatory Meeting for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UN Oceans Conference).
We gather here, as stewards of the Blue Pacific Continent—custodians of nearly 20% of the Earth’s surface. Our presence here affirms our collective political will and regional unity. It speaks to the strength of our shared identity, our Blue Pacific identity, and our unwavering commitment to safeguard our ocean, our people, and our future.
Our ocean is central to who we are. It sustains our economies, feeds our people, defines our cultures, and binds us together. And yet, it is under immense threat—from climate change, biodiversity loss, illegal fishing, marine pollution, and unsustainable exploitation.
The convening of this inaugural Pacific Ocean Ministers meeting comes at a pivotal moment—availing an opportunity for us as a region to chart our collective course towards a future where the Ocean is resilient and healthy, guaranteeing the prosperity and abundance of our future generations .
As Leaders have articulated in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, we must “protect our ocean and environment” and “secure a future for our people.” These are not just aspirational words; they are an intergenerational responsibility. It is our responsibility as generations of today to turn these aspirations into reality, leaving behind a legacy of hope and prosperity for our children and grandchildren.
A holistic approach to Ocean governance that promotes integrated Ocean management is key to success. While sectoral effort is serving its purpose, cross-sectoral awareness is important indeed to ensure efficiency, avoiding duplication and conflicts and promoting collaboration and partnerships at the operational levels. For the first time at the regional level, we will have all the Ocean related sectors represented in a meeting and the opportunity for a cross-sectoral dialogue to understand each sector and to contribute to the overall Pacific effort in safeguarding the Ocean.
Today and tomorrow, we must consider the key priorities and political messages we wish to champion at the UN Oceans Conference. We must identify where the Pacific will lead, which initiatives we will showcase, and what lessons we can share with the world. Let us also be bold in identifying cross-cutting challenges—from climate finance and ocean governance to gender equality, youth inclusion, and technology—that demand integrated, Pacific-grown solutions.
Our region has already shown strong leadership. From high-level declarations on preserving maritime boundaries and statehood, to advocacy on BBNJ and IUU fishing, to our own Pacific owned and led initiatives such as the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and the fisheries East New Britain Initiative. Initiatives that not only address the region’s challenges but could also contribute to global efforts on the same. These efforts reflect the leadership our region continues to demonstrate on the global stage.
The Implementation Plan for the 2050 Strategy calls for concrete, regional collective actions. This meeting is where those actions should begin to come together into a coordinated and unified Pacific voice. Let us ensure that our messaging for the UN Oceans Conference is grounded in solidarity, inclusion, and the Pacific Way—embracing traditional knowledge alongside science, and lifting up the voices of women, youth, and communities often unheard.
As we look ahead to the UN Oceans Conference—and beyond to the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and COP30, this meeting should consider how the Pacific positions itself not just as a region at the frontline of ocean challenges, but as a leader in solutions.
And as we focus our advocacy efforts at these important global events, we must remember to leverage our long-standing platforms, such as the Political Climate Champions. It is important that our work complements, rather than duplicates or dilutes existing mechanisms and processes.
The task before us is significant, but we are not without direction. The 2050 Strategy is our blueprint. The ocean is our heritage. And unity is our strength.
I thank you all for your dedication and commitment. Let us move forward together in true Pacific solidarity—so that the decisions we take here over these two days will echo in Nice and far beyond.
Tubwa Kõr, Vinaka Vakalevu, and I thank you.
