HONIARA, Solomon Islands, October 3 (IPS) – Within the packed convention corridor of the Heritage Lodge, the sound of Pacific voices crammed the air—not simply by means of speeches, however in tune, rhythm, and poetry. The Dreamcast Theatre Performing Arts group opened the Second Pacific Island Ocean Convention with an evocative efficiency, reminding leaders and practitioners why that they had gathered: to hear. To take heed to science. To take heed to communities. To take heed to the ocean itself.
The message resounded all through the five-day assembly: defending the Pacific Ocean calls for a united method that bridges conventional information and trendy science, grounding coverage within the lived experiences of Pacific peoples.
“All of us want to come back collectively and take a look at a complete, strong framework that may enable the totally different sectors to coordinate actions, and to work collectively by way of what we have to do as a way to shield the ocean, our assets for the event and nation-building aspirations,” mentioned Dr. Filimon Manoni, Commissioner for the Workplace of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC).
Communities Communicate
In contrast to many worldwide conferences dominated by coverage language and scientific jargon, this gathering centered Pacific communities. Chiefs, fishers, youth leaders, and conservation practitioners spoke candidly in regards to the challenges they face — from vanishing fish shares to coastal erosion — and urged governments and scientists not solely to hear however to behave.
For Leausalilo Leilani Duffy of Conservation Worldwide Samoa, whose work focuses on safeguarding biodiversity by means of community-based conservation, this isn’t new territory.
“After we speak about weaving conventional information into science, now we have already been doing the weaving,” she mentioned. “We simply must increase extra on it and showcase to the world how Pacific nations have at all times been built-in.”
Duffy harassed that whereas political battles could divide leaders in parliaments, the surroundings stays a unifying drive throughout the area.
“As Pacific Islanders we would not have the posh like large nations. We’re small land bases in large ocean states. If we don’t handle our oceans sustainably in the way in which that we at all times have, the ocean will eat us.”
Ocean as Family tree
For Pacific peoples, the ocean isn’t merely geography—it’s family tree. It’s historical past, livelihood, id, and religion. Centuries earlier than satellites and supercomputers, Pacific navigators learn the celebs, swells, and winds to traverse 1000’s of miles of open sea. This heritage nonetheless shapes at the moment’s communities.
As local weather change accelerates, with rising seas and stronger storms battering islands, Pacific leaders see this oceanic knowledge not as folklore however as an important useful resource for resilience.
“It’s the similar factor, we simply use a distinct language to speak about the identical factor,” defined Dr. Salanieta Kitolelei, who research the mixing of Indigenous information and marine species relationships.
She pointed to coral restoration tasks in Fiji the place scientists and villagers work aspect by aspect, transplanting corals from hotter to cooler areas to exchange dying reefs.
Conventional Data as Knowledge
Scientific leaders on the convention acknowledged the irreplaceable worth of conventional information. Jerome Aucan, Head of the Pacific Group Centre for Ocean Science, described the way it typically fills the gaps the place information is lacking.
“After we take a look at early warning programs and prediction of excessive sea ranges throughout storms or cyclones, we make predictions by being knowledgeable by the previous,” he mentioned.
However in lots of instances, instrument information doesn’t exist. As a substitute, communities depend on reminiscence.
“The one information now we have is the elders’ information of what occurred that day. In a few of these excessive occasions, elders have a vivid reminiscence—the place the water went, how excessive the waves reached, and what harm was executed. A few of this information goes again 30, 40, and even 60 years. We use that information to reconstruct previous storms so we are able to enhance the way in which we predict future ones.”
This, Aucan added, isn’t anecdote—it’s proof. And it’s indispensable.
The Pacific’s Personal Science
Dr. Katy Soapi of the Pacific Group (SPC) put it merely, “The Pacific has at all times been house to its personal science. Our conventional programs of observing ocean well being are refined. When mixed with new instruments—like satellite tv for pc mapping or genetic research of reefs—we create highly effective, holistic approaches to guard our shared ocean.”
That integration is now mirrored in regional ocean governance. OPOC, tasked with coordinating ocean priorities throughout the area, is pushing to embed each conventional information and trendy science into decision-making frameworks.
“We can not afford to deal with Indigenous information as anecdotal,” mentioned Manoni. “It’s proof, examined and lived for generations. Science and custom collectively give us probably the most full image of how you can handle our ocean.”
Classes from Fisheries
Some of the putting examples of this synergy comes from fisheries administration. Dr. Noan Pakop, Director Common of the Pacific Islands Discussion board Fisheries Company (FFA), highlighted how group practices have influenced trendy coverage.
“Our communities have lengthy used tabu areas—closing off reefs to permit fish to regenerate,” he mentioned.
“These practices mirror trendy conservation strategies. By combining native observations with scientific inventory information, we’ve constructed stronger, extra sustainable tuna administration programs that profit all Pacific nations.”
But, challenges stay. In world negotiations on local weather, biodiversity, and ocean governance, Western science nonetheless tends to dominate the room. Pacific leaders on the convention referred to as for extra equitable recognition of their information programs.
A Shared Mannequin for the World
It’s clear that the convention shares a collective imaginative and prescient: a Pacific that protects 100% of its ocean and sustainably manages not less than 30 p.c, in keeping with world biodiversity targets. However leaders insisted that the trail should be uniquely Pacific—rooted in group, tradition, and connection.
That is greater than conservation. It’s survival. Rising seas are already swallowing coastlines. Warming waters threaten fisheries and meals safety. Cyclones are intensifying. For small island nations, the stakes couldn’t be greater.
However as this week’s gathering in Honiara exhibits, the Pacific isn’t a sufferer narrative. It’s a management story.
From coral transplanting in Fijian villages to elders’ storm reminiscences shaping predictive fashions to tuna administration mixing tabu with satellite tv for pc information and Geospatial imagery—the Pacific is charting a course the place historic knowledge and trendy science sail collectively.
The world is watching. And, as Leilani Duffy reminded delegates, the Pacific’s biggest reward is exhibiting that respect for the ocean isn’t a brand new agenda—it’s who Pacific peoples are.
“Conservation isn’t one thing we imported. It has at all times been a part of our lives. The problem now’s to ensure the world listens to what we already know.”
Because the convention corridor in Honiara slowly got here to an in depth, that decision to hear lingered—a reminder that defending the ocean isn’t just about insurance policies and frameworks. It’s about tales, reminiscences, and the knowledge of the folks whose very family tree is written within the waves.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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