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SIDS lead ocean solutions, says Solomon Islands PM at UN Ocean Conference, calling for support on fisheries and climate
Nice, France – Wednesday, 11 June 2025 – At a time when global leaders are seeking solutions to safeguard the world’s oceans, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele delivered a clear and hopeful message at the Third UN Ocean Conference: Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are not just asking for help—they are already implementing solutions.
Speaking on behalf of the 39 member countries of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) at the Ocean Action Panel on fostering sustainable fisheries management, Prime Minister Manele emphasized that for small island nations, fisheries are more than an economic sector. They are central to livelihoods, food security, identity, and culture. With ocean areas comprising more than 95 percent of their national territories, and SIDS collectively managing around 30 percent of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zones, these states depend on healthy oceans for survival and development.
Prime Minister Manele underscored that SIDS are leading by example. He cited the Honiara Summit on SDG 14.4, hosted by Solomon Islands earlier this year, which brought together leaders to address urgent challenges in fisheries management. The summit reaffirmed the need for immediate action on overfishing—which affects 37.7 percent of global fish stocks—and advocated for stronger regional cooperation through fisheries bodies, as well as increased support for small-scale fisheries.
He further noted that SIDS are incorporating fisheries into climate action strategies. The Pacific region, he said, supplies over 50 percent of the world’s tuna, illustrating how sustainable practices, traditional marine management systems, and modern science can work together to deliver global impact. Despite limited resources, small island states are demonstrating that they can be effective stewards of the ocean.
However, Manele cautioned that these efforts are being threatened by three growing challenges. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is depriving coastal states of up to $23 billion annually and weakening sustainability measures. Climate change is altering fish distributions, disrupting ecosystems, and creating uncertainty for communities dependent on stable ocean resources. Capacity constraints also limit the ability of SIDS to scale up successful local management models.
He reminded the international community that while SIDS remain committed to conservation, global agreements must uphold the principle of equity—conservation measures should not place disproportionate burdens on small island nations already facing multiple pressures.
Calling for urgent and tangible support, Prime Minister Manele urged international partners to go beyond declarations and invest in proven, SIDS-led solutions. He called for enhanced monitoring and enforcement to combat IUU fishing, increased and targeted financing for small-scale fisheries and climate-resilient infrastructure, and broader recognition of the integrated approaches developed by SIDS, which combine traditional knowledge, science, and regional cooperation.
“As we say in Solomon Islands Pidgin—iumi tugeda—we are together,” said Prime Minister Manele. “We are all connected by—and across—the ocean. We have drawn benefits from it for generations. Our responsibility is to manage this resource wisely, so future generations can enjoy it as we have. Iumi tugeda for sustainable fisheries. Iumi tugeda for future generations.”
SOURCE : PMO PRESS
