AT the Honiara Summit 2025, President of the Republic of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr highlighted that unlocking the Blue Pacific Prosperity Plan (UBPP), the most ambitious initiative, is crucial to ensure healthy oceans regionally and globally.
Whipps Jr said Pacific leaders at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched the UBPP, signifying their commitment to work together not only to protect regional ocean resources, but also to optimise their use to ensure prosperity.
“There are three goals in this plan. First of all, goal number one, 100 percent effective sustainable ocean management, second healthy, productive people thriving because of robust food systems underpinned by resilient ecosystems and lastly, fit-for-purpose financing through sustainable mechanisms to support the Blue Pacific Strategy,” he said.
President Whipps Jr added the UBPP is grounded upon Pacific traditional values like the Palawan Bul, a sustainable resource management tool that emphasises conservation and social order, and has guided Palau’s efforts in protecting its natural resources and reflects its understanding that it must meet the needs of its present generation without compromising that of future generations.
“For millennia, traditional leaders would send out their resources to protect researchers, out to survey the ocean area or the forest area, and based on their advice, our traditional leaders would decide if those areas should be closed or species protected, and declare a bul, ceasing all harvesting to allow for rejuvenation.
“That’s how we’ve survived sustainably for thousands of years. These same practises are still employed today using science and data, so I believe sustainability is in our DNA.
“Unfortunately, over the years, cold storage and advanced fishing methods made us efficient killers.
“I remember when I was young and I would jump into the sea and there would be clams everywhere. Unfortunately, today this is no longer the case, as foreign fleets have plundered our reefs and our offshore fisheries. But there is good news. Now we have evidence that shows that science and data-driven management tools can keep our fisheries sustainable,” he said.
He said despite the effort of the Pacific people for sustainable fisheries, we are still plagued with Illegal Unreported Unregulated, the impact of climate change, and pollution.
Sustainability of the ocean has long been a practise by the Pacific Islands for centuries.
The Honiara Summit 2025 was held from February 25 to 27.
By LACHLAN SHYVES EDDIE
Solomon Star, Honiara
