In a bold move to protect ancestral waters and marine biodiversity, the governments of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands have jointly announced their commitment to establish the Melanesian Ocean Reserve—a proposed multinational protected area that, if implemented, would be the world’s first Indigenous-led ocean reserve.

The announcement was made at the U.N. Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France, where Vanuatu’s Minister of Environment Ralph Regenvanu described the reserve as a way to reclaim stewardship of the Pacific for Indigenous Melanesian peoples.

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A Reserve the Size of the Amazon

The envisioned Melanesian Ocean Reserve would span over 6 million square kilometers, covering the combined national waters of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea, and extending to the protected Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of New Caledonia.

This area is one of the most ecologically significant on Earth, home to:

• 75% of all known coral species
• Over 3,000 species of reef-associated fish
• Some of the last large-scale tropical marine ecosystems largely under Indigenous control

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Vanuatu’s Leadership in Ocean Governance

Speaking at the launch, Minister Regenvanu emphasized:

“The Melanesian Ocean Reserve will give the governments and peoples of Melanesia the ability to do much more to protect our ancestral waters from those who extract and exploit without concern for our planet and its living beings.”

The proposal reflects Vanuatu’s growing leadership on climate justice, marine conservation, and the rights of Indigenous communities on the global stage.

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Backed by Tradition, Facing Modern Threats

Despite quietly protecting more than 150,000 square kilometers of their waters, Melanesian countries face daily illegal fishing intrusions, often by large international vessels. The new reserve aims to stop that through coordinated surveillance, policy alignment, and regional solidarity.

The reserve will only allow sustainable economic activities aligned with Indigenous values and stewardship practices.

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Still in Development

Discussions are ongoing with Papua New Guinea, whose interest in deep-sea mining has raised concerns about how fully the country will align with the reserve’s conservation goals. New Caledonia, however, has already voted to place a moratorium on seabed mining until 2075, signaling strong support.

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A Global Model from the Pacific

This initiative may become a global model for community-led conservation, where Indigenous peoples define the terms of marine protection.

As Pacific leaders continue negotiations, the world will be watching how this new model of environmental governance—rooted in tradition, backed by science, and driven by justice—takes shape.