In the latest development on regional ocean governance, Papua New Guinea will host the Melanesian Oceans Summit in Port Moresby, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jelta Wong announced while attending the World Oceans Summit and Expo in Montreal. Wong used the global forum to press for new, technology-driven approaches to preserving marine ecosystems and strengthening maritime security across the Pacific.
A central element of Wong’s remarks was the dark vessel detection (DVD) programme, a satellite surveillance initiative led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Developed in partnership with Canada’s Department of National Defence and MDA Space, the DVD system leverages the RADARSAT Constellation Mission to spot vessels that switch off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). The programme then overlays those detections with radio-frequency data to help pinpoint and track suspicious activity at sea, a capability Wong said could be adapted for Pacific island states struggling with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Wong signalled Port Moresby’s upcoming summit as an opportunity to explore similar collaborations and technology transfers tailored to the region. “By adopting advanced surveillance technologies, Pacific nations can enhance maritime security and protect their rich marine biodiversity,” he said in Montreal, emphasising that such tools can close enforcement gaps in vast ocean spaces where resources for at-sea patrols are limited.
Beyond surveillance, Wong reported active engagement with donor partners on grant-funded projects spanning plastic recycling, clean energy, mangrove rehabilitation and coral restoration. He described these partnerships as vital to climate resilience and sustainable practice in Pacific fisheries, but also urged donors and partners to provide equitable support. He argued the Pacific’s stewardship of critical ocean ecosystems warrants fair access to finance and technology, calling the region the “lungs and kidneys of Earth.”
Wong also used the platform to call for ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, urging Melanesian and other Pacific states to back the international framework. He said ratification would strengthen cooperative governance and provide mechanisms for the shared, sustainable management of marine resources beyond national borders — a pressing issue for large ocean states that rely on high-seas biodiversity and migratory species.
The Port Moresby summit is now positioned as a focal point for converting these international examples and commitments into regional action. Officials in Port Moresby have yet to announce dates or an agenda for the Melanesian Oceans Summit, but Wong’s Montreal interventions underscore an increasing push among Pacific leaders to combine donor-funded conservation efforts with high-tech surveillance and stronger international legal frameworks.
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