by Charley Piringi
A weeklong Pacific Islands Ocean Conference has officially opened in Honiara today.
The conference will run from 29 September to 3 October 2025, bringing together governments, scientists, and ocean stakeholders from across the region to advance sustainable ocean management.
The event is convened by the Pacific Community (SPC) through its Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science (PCCOS), the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Building on the outcomes of the 2023 Pacific Islands Conference on Ocean Science and Management and the Pacific Regional Ocean Policy and Governance Dialogue, the conference aims to strengthen the science-policy interface and ensure Pacific voices remain central to global ocean debates.
In his opening remarks, keynote speaker, Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr. Filimone Manoni said the regional ocean is a necessity that must be managed sustainably for future generations.
“We need the support from science and our traditional knowledge to manage and sustain our ocean. We all have a responsibility to preserve our ocean and the future of our ocean to manage it sustainably.” He added, “The ocean is now facing unprecedented challenges, and collaboration is not only important but it’s a necessity.”
Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Minister of Public Service Hon. John Tuhaika Jr echoed similar sentiments of ocean preservations.
“Ocean makes up 98% of our region. We are custodian of a third largest exclusive economic zone. Our ocean is under immense stress, from Climate Change, Sea level Rise, Pollution and biodiversity loss, these are not distant for us, they are our daily realities. The ocean is our life.”
Discussions will cover ocean science, governance, policy implementation, and integrated management, while also highlighting the role of traditional knowledge.
The conference will provide platforms for Pacific researchers and experts to share findings, explore challenges, and assess progress from recent global and regional events such as the UN Ocean Conference, the Our Ocean Conference, and the Honiara Summit.
This regional conference is part of the Ocean Decade implementation in the Blue Pacific for Sustainable Development, reaffirming the Blue Pacific’s commitment to protect and manage its ocean resources.
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