Pacific Oceans Alliance Update Report to the IACG on SAMOA Pathway Partnerships: 28 May 2015
Prepared by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Background

The Pacific Ocean Alliance, facilitated by the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, is a new partnership
that was launched at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS
2014). The Pacific Ocean Alliance is an open-ended and voluntary information-sharing and
coordination partnership, between stakeholders with an interest in the sustainable
development, management and conservation of the Pacific Ocean and its resources.
Pacific Ocean Commissioner

Dame Meg Taylor, as new Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, has taken
on the role of Pacific Ocean Commissioner. The Commissioner provides dedicated advocacy and
attention to ocean priorities, decisions and processes at national, regional and international
levels.

The Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner has been established within the Forum Secretariat
to support the Commissioner in her role, particularly in facilitating the Pacific Ocean Alliance.
The Office comprises one full-time Oceans Analyst, the majority of the Ocean Management
Officer’s time and part of the Forum Secretariat’s Natural Resources Adviser’s time.

Support for the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner has been provided by the following
partners:
o Ocean Analyst seconded from the Government of Australia for 18 months;
o Ocean Management Officer provided through a Government of Australia funded
volunteer programme;
o USD225,000 (2015 to 2018) from Conservation International; and
o Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat core budget.

Support for the Office will also be provided through the Pacific Regional Oceanscape
Programme, recently approved by the World Bank board.
Pacific Ocean Alliance

The first meeting of the Pacific Ocean Alliance, High Hopes for High Seas, is being convened in
Fiji this week (25 to 27 May). Over 100 participants from Pacific countries, international and
regional organisations, academic institutions, donors and civil society have come together to
discuss the region’s priorities and interests as they relate to areas beyond national jurisdiction.
This will be followed by a technical working group on this issue, also convened under the Pacific
Ocean Alliance (28 May).

Financial and in-kind support for the Pacific Ocean Alliance meeting has been provided by the
Common Oceans Program, Conservation International, Global Environment Facility,
Governments of New Zealand and Australia, High Seas Alliance, and Pacific Islands Forum
Secretariat.