Pacific nations must enhance their enforcement of maritime laws to safeguard ocean resources amid rising security concerns, according to Amena Yauvoli, the permanent secretary of the Civil Service and Public Enterprise Ministry. Speaking at the 2025 Pacific Regional and National Security Conference held in Suva, Yauvoli highlighted that numerous regulatory frameworks, including the Maritime Zones Act and the Offshore Fisheries Management Decree, are already available to guide these efforts.
Yauvoli emphasized the need for a coordinated governmental approach to tackle issues such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and seabed mining, noting that maritime security is a shared responsibility that extends beyond individual ministries to encompass the entire government.
In relation to these discussions, the recent Maritime Security Conference featured proposals from Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua, advocating the formation of the “Oceanic Alliance for the Security of Island States” (OASIS). This initiative seeks to create a collaborative framework among Pacific nations to combat threats such as illegal fishing and climate change impacts, important components of a broader maritime strategy.
British High Commissioner Brian Jones and UNDP Resident Representative for the Pacific Office, Munkhtuya Altangerel, also contributed to the dialogue, underscoring the imperative for local maritime communities to act as vigilant protectors of their waters, thereby enhancing regional security and sustainability.
This ongoing collaboration suggests a promising future for maritime governance in the Pacific region as nations come together to protect their shared oceanic resources for generations to come. The efforts reflect a growing recognition of environmental stewardship and collective security as vital to the overall well-being of Pacific Island communities.
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