The urgent call for regional cooperation in managing the Pacific’s vast marine resources took center stage at the Honiara Summit this week, where leaders and experts gathered to reaffirm their commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.4: achieving sustainable fisheries.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Nestor Giro, both spoke of the critical need for Pacific nations to work together in safeguarding the future of their oceans.
Both leaders reflected a shared vision of collective action, regional solidarity, and a science-based approach to sustainable fisheries management.
A Shared Commitment to Regional Cooperation
In his address to officially open the summit, Prime Minister Manele emphasized that sustainable fisheries can only be achieved through collaboration at national, regional, and international levels.
He reminded leaders that Pacific nations have long recognized the fundamental importance of working together, particularly in securing maritime zones and ensuring the responsible management of fish stocks.
“With vast areas of ocean within their respective jurisdictions, limited capacity, and competition for access to fish, it is important that we work collectively in the management of fish stocks,” Manele stated.
He called on all Pacific Islands Forum members to finalize maritime zones and reaffirmed the 2021 commitment of Pacific leaders to protect these zones under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), regardless of climate change impacts.
Also speaking at the summit opening, Minister Giro echoed this sentiment, noting that the theme of the summit, Lumi Tugeda: Delivering on SDG 14.4, serves as a powerful reminder that cooperation is the only way forward.
“We gather not only as representatives of our respective nations and organizations but as stewards and indigenous custodians of our oceans, united by this one common purpose – the sustainability of our oceans and fisheries,” Giro stated..
Tackling Overfishing and Illegal Practices
A key issue raised at the summit was the alarming decline in biologically sustainable fish stocks.
According to Prime Minister Manele, the proportion of marine fish stocks within sustainable levels has dropped from 90% in 1974 to 62.3% in 2021.
However, he pointed to the success of properly managed fisheries, such as tuna stocks, where 85% of commercial catches come from sustainable sources due to robust regional fisheries management efforts.
Both leaders highlighted SDG 14.4’s emphasis on eliminating overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and destructive fishing practices.
Minister Giro stressed that this goal is particularly vital for small island developing states (SIDS), where fisheries contribute significantly to national GDP—ranging from 3% to 25% across the region.
The Path Forward: Science, Policy, and Partnerships
Manele outlined key expectations for the summit, including assessing progress on SDG 14.4.1, accelerating SDG delivery, closing knowledge and technology gaps, and enhancing partnerships.
He also urged greater recognition of the unique challenges faced by SIDS in international fisheries agreements, such as the UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
Minister Giro also went on to emphasize the importance of leveraging the region’s rich marine biodiversity through science-based policies and sustainable practices.
“The health of our marine resources is inextricably linked to our livelihoods, culture, development, and future,” he stated, urging stakeholders to share knowledge, develop innovative solutions, and ensure long-term stewardship of the ocean.