27 May 2015: The Pacific Ocean Alliance held its inaugural meeting and discussed the priorities of Pacific Island countries in relation to resources found in areas beyond national jurisdiction, for example, tuna and deep-sea ecosystems. The meeting concluded with an affirmation to maintain the focus on proclaiming the maritime boundaries of Pacific Island nations, to ensure that they benefit from the sustainable use, management and conservation of ocean resources.

The Pacific Ocean Alliance includes the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and Conservation International. The Alliance was launched on 2 September 2014, at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and is open to other members.

Pacific Ocean Commissioner Meg Taylor hosted the inaugural meeting of the Alliance, which took place in Suva, Fiji, on 25-27 May 2015.

In her opening address, Taylor recalled that the Framework for Pacific Regionalism was adopted in July 2014 as a process for identifying regional priorities. She noted that the governance regime for the high seas is often likened to a patchwork quilt, made up of agreements and authorities such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the International Seabed Authority. She highlighted the need for a holistic governance regime for ocean biodiversity, and encouraged all concerned to strengthen existing partnerships as well as forge new alliances.

At the close of the meeting, Cristelle Pratt, PIFS, noted countries’ interest in the possible benefits to Pacific Island countries from marine genetic resources, and the need to proclaim countries’ maritime boundaries in order to assess what resources belong to them. Delegates called for a new implementing agreement on regional initiatives to improve coordination between existing sectoral approaches. Some countries had suggested that UNCLOS should be amended to include “meaningful area-based management” that would address all sectoral approaches and conservation objectives on an equal footing. Delegates also renewed discussion of having a regional ocean ombudsman, initially proposed in 2002.

Pratt invited delegates to engage in the Framework for Pacific Regionalism by submitting proposals for regional initiatives by 12 June 2015.

Outcomes of the meeting were discussed at a meeting of a Technical Working Group on 28 May. [Meeting Summary] [Taylor Statement] [Framework for Pacific Regionalism] [Pacific Ocean Alliance Information]