Charting a Course for Ocean Management in the Pacific Islands

A principal emphasis involves the integration of traditional knowledge with scientific methods. The UN Ocean Decade recognizes the merit in combining diverse forms of ocean knowledge, noting the long-standing programs related to traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities within international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. This blending of knowledge systems is viewed as a means to jointly create the most comprehensive ocean knowledge available, particularly pertinent for the implementation of agreements like the BBNJ Agreement (Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction), which makes explicit reference to traditional knowledge across its various parts, such as marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building. The BBNJ Agreement stipulates that access to traditional knowledge requires the free, prior, and informed consent or approval and involvement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Practical illustrations from Fiji provide insight into the application of traditional fishing knowledge, which forms a part of the cultural legacy of the iTaukei people. Women among the Indigenous population, in particular, contribute to the preservation and application of this knowledge, as they support the continuation of marine resource sustainability through established methods like seasonal fishing and the use of traditional gear such as hand lines and fish traps. This ecological acumen informs marine management at the community level, including the designation of tabu areas, which are zones closed to fishing to allow marine life to replenish. Matabose E Qarava Na Veika Vakai, the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) network has revitalized customary systems of community cooperation, promoting collective decision-making in resource management. A study in Navakavu indicated that more than 80 percent of villagers observed increased participation in community meetings and a more prominent role for women since the establishment of the Qoliqoli, the Locally Managed Marine Area. Bringing this knowledge into broader conservation efforts is regarded as fundamental for the sustained utilization and protection of Fiji's marine resources.  

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) presents another perspective on the integration of Indigenous and local knowledge, extending to a global scale. IPBES adopts a "multiple evidence base approach", acknowledging that different knowledge systems may not offer directly comparable measures and that power disparities exist. This approach values complementarity and validation within, rather than across, knowledge systems, guiding collaborative efforts with principles of equity, transparency, and utility for all involved. The IPBES Global Assessment Process (2016-2019) undertook systematic efforts to include Indigenous participation through workshops, calls for contributions, and dialogue sessions, which led to the identification of additional relevant documents in various languages. These engagement strategies resulted in greater Indigenous participation and enhanced integration of knowledge systems, yielding insights for processes like the BBNJ Agreement. The IPBES experience suggests that achieving a balance for contextualized knowledge, such as Indigenous and local knowledge, within a global assessment framework is indeed possible. The Ocean Decade is in the process of developing a conceptual framework for co-creation between science and traditional knowledge, with potential for drawing upon the IPBES framework to facilitate compatibility between place-based and larger-scale assessments.  

Despite the acknowledgment of traditional knowledge, achieving its full integration encounters impediments. Among the actions endorsed by the Ocean Decade, while many incorporate traditional knowledge, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, a smaller proportion are actually led by these groups, and that points to a need for more prominent leadership roles. The geographical distribution of these actions also indicates a predominance of wealthier nations, which suggests a need to foster greater participation and leadership from developing countries, including SIDS - Small Island Developing States. Obstacles include limitations in funding and accreditation, unequal access, and a lack of political understanding of the worth of traditional knowledge in international forums.  

A different perspective arises from advances in ocean science and technology, particularly concerning the observation of internal tides in the ocean. A new internal tide model, ZHAO30yr, created using three decades of satellite altimetry data, provides granular information on internal tide constituents. This model includes 12 internal tide constituents, encompassing both mode-1 and mode-2 forms, with estimated errors below 1 mm in amplitude, a result attributed to the refined mapping technique and the extensive data record. The model deconstructs the internal tide field into plane waves, thus uncovering features previously obscured by multiwave interference. This deconstruction reveals long-range internal tidal beams linked to seafloor topography, such as those found off the Amazon shelf and in the Arabian Sea. The model's capacity to discern these beams provides data on their generation, movement, and dissipation. Evaluation of the ZHAO30yr model using independent altimetry data indicates positive variance reductions for most constituents. Such scientific progress contributes to a deeper comprehension of ocean dynamics, which holds relevance for marine management, although applying these insights to Pacific Island management necessitates considering the specific oceanographic conditions prevalent in that region.  

A contrasting viewpoint emerges from recent shifts in United States policy, specifically regarding seafood competitiveness and seabed mineral resources. A new Executive Order in 2025, titled "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness," seeks to reduce regulation in the seafood sector, building upon a previous order from 2020. This directive represents an intensification of efforts to dismantle federal regulatory structures and diminish scientific authority. It instructs the Secretary of Commerce to address perceived "overregulation" and mandates the suspension, revision, or repeal of "burdensome regulations" affecting wild capture fisheries, aquaculture, and processing. This approach has drawn criticism for giving scant attention to aquaculture despite its capacity to help meet domestic seafood demand in the US. While the 2020 order referenced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and sustainability multiple times, the 2025 order mentions the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) only once and omits any reference to sustainability. This stands in distinction to management approaches informed by science that have aided the recovery of numerous U.S. wild fish populations. The administration has also put forward proposals for budget reductions and staff cuts for NOAA, affecting parts of its research division, particularly those focused on climate change.  

Further, policy changes, such as the judicial overturning of the 1984 Chevron deference by the 2024 Loper Bright ruling, curtail the authority of federal agencies, including NOAA, to interpret statutes, potentially leading to increased legal challenges and uncertainty. The proposed transfer of responsibilities for endangered species and marine mammal protection from NOAA Fisheries to another department is seen as undermining an integrated approach that combines marine conservation and fisheries management. Actions like permitting fishing in marine protected areas, notwithstanding evidence that such protected zones benefit fisheries and biodiversity through species movement and population growth, are also pointed out as inconsistencies.  

With regard to seabed mineral resources, a 2025 Executive Order highlights the United States' interest in deep sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources forUS national security and economic ends. It sets forth a policy to advance U.S. leadership in seabed mineral development by accelerating the development of domestic capabilities, supporting investment in deep sea science and mapping, improving coordination among agencies, establishing the U.S. as a global leader in responsible seabed mineral exploration, building a domestic supply chain, and strengthening partnerships with allies to counter the influence of other nations. The order calls for expediting processes for reviewing and issuing exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction and within the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. It also calls for engaging with partners and allies to provide support for seabed mineral resource activities within their national jurisdictions. This focus on resource extraction introduces another factor into the discussion of ocean management, with potential interactions with conservation efforts and traditional rights in the Pacific Islands.  

Ocean management in the Pacific Islands, then, involves juggling different forms of understanding the marine world, the impetus for scientific and technological advancement, and the influence of national and international policy directives. The effectiveness of management strategies may hinge on how well these different perspectives can be brought together in constructive conversation and collaboration. The question remains as to how the biocultural knowledge held by our Pacific Island communities, refined over generations of engagement with their marine environment, can be truly integrated into broader governance frameworks. Similarly, how can the insights gleaned from advanced oceanographic modeling inform management decisions while respecting local contexts and traditional practices? And what are the ramifications of increasing global interest in seabed resources for the sustained future of Pacific Island oceans and the communities whose livelihoods depend on them? These considerations remain open, suggesting a future where successfully integrating these varied currents into Wonsolwara will be key to fostering a lasting relationship with our ocean. Vola ka tukuna mai vei keitou!