Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 13 May 2026 – The inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit commenced this morning with Pacific Leaders’ sharing their pledges, commitments and ambitions cognisant with the theme of Ensuring Ocean Protection with Sustainable Ocean Economies.
Speaking to the Cook Islands’ participation in the summit, Prime Minister Mark Brown underscored the shared responsibility for ocean protection, stating “we are called here by the needs of our ocean, the voices of our people, and the eyes of the generations yet to come. We come not only to share our story, but to offer what we have learned — and to learn from the extraordinary ocean wisdom that is in this room.”
During his intervention, the Prime Minister outlined how the Cook Islands has actively embedded mana tiaki into its national ocean governance approaches. He highlighted the Cook Islands’ success in completing all maritime boundary agreements, international recognition of its extended continental shelf in the Manihiki Plateau, and the establishment and operationalisation of Marae Moana, which facilitates responsible ocean governance from surface waters to the depths of the ocean floor.
He further emphasised the Cook Islands’ science-based and precautionary approach to ocean management, underpinned by transparent exploration data, noting that where knowledge gaps remain, the country continues to undertake its own research in parallel.
Reflecting on this approach, the Prime Minister affirmed that, “the choice between the environment and the economy is a false one. We are living proof that they can work in tandem. By leading with foresight, we have shown that a thriving environment is the very foundation of a thriving economy.”
Building on this message of stewardship, foresight and knowledge sharing, the Prime Minister also highlighted opportunities for deeper collaboration across the Pacific in advancing shared ocean priorities, including an invitation for the Pacific family to participate in the Women in Scientific Expedition (WISE) Programme and a proposal for a transboundary whale corridor with Tonga and Niue during the whale migration season.
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