Projects: Pacific partners

Ocean Stories and Traditional Knowledge: WWW Platform and Network

This OceanStates Pacific Partnership is headed by Dr. Elise Huffer, who is Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of the South Pacific and Vice Chair of CEESP Oceania, IUCN. Pacific Islanders have a long-standing cultural relationship with the ocean, manifested through a multitude of expressions including genealogies, stories, chants, naming of places and people. Navigational knowledge and sea routes have created ongoing deep connections with ocean life. Marine creatures are not just animals; they are relations and spirits which bind people to the ocean and to each other. The ocean knowledge held by Pacific Islanders goes beyond the horizons of conventional ocean science, which is increasingly recognised on a global level. This OceanStates activity establishes a web platform and an online network to bring together knowledge holders, researchers, academics, practitioners, and existing research and publications. 

2050 Ocean and Fisheries Vision for Solomon Islands

This OceanStates Pacific Partnership is headed by Professor Transform Aqorau, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University and CEO and Founding Director, iTUNA Intel. In its Exclusive Economic Zone of 1,58 million square kilometres Solomon Islands has a unique combination of ocean resources and fisheries systems – huge stocks of migratory tuna and the world’s highest coral reef biodiversity. When this OceanStates sub-project was conceived in 2020, the COVID 19 pandemic was as its initial high, while in the Pacific  additional challenges of climate change were forcing governments, businesses, individuals, and communities to rethink ocean resources and fisheries management. These are important considerations for other Pacific Island countries too. This study builds on the Fisheries Management Act 2015, the draft Solomon Islands Tuna Management and Development Plan 2020-2025, and the Solomon Islands National Ocean Policy. Outcomes are (1) A study of Solomon Islands fisheries management that includes a vision for ocean resources and fisheries in 2050; (2) A high-level symposium of political leaders and key stakeholders, combined with online events; (3) A Roadmap for Solomon Islands Ocean and Fisheries in 2050. 
 

The Ma'ohi Nui project

This OceanStates Pacific Partnership is headed by Vehia Wheeler, who is co-founder of Sustainable Oceania Solutions (SOS) and Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader for Tahiti in 2020. She is now a PhD candidate at the Australian National University. In collaboration with the Island Lives, Ocean States, Vehia and her research team collected a wealth of ocean stories among the people of Ma'ohi Nui (French Polynesia), aiming in their work to re-story the ocean; to uplift voices, knowledge and perspectives on the ocean among indigenous populations in Mā'ohi Nui. Read more about the Ma'ohi Nui project in this concept note, or in the OceanStates blog. You can also follow updates on their work through SOS on Twitter.