Melanesian Ocean Ocean is our Home
Melanesian Ocean Reserve
The First Indigenous-led, Multi-National Ocean Reserve on Earth.
“For thousands of years, the ocean has been our highway, our pantry, our classroom, our sacred space. It carries the stories of our ancestors and the dreams of our children. It is where our identities are anchored and where our sovereignty begins.”
A Bold New Era for Ocean Stewardship
The Melanesian Ocean Reserve is a visionary marine protection and governance initiative that proposes the creation of the world’s largest interconnected marine reserve.
The Reserve will operate across the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia, and when complete, it is expected to span at least 6 million square kilometers of ocean and islands — an area as vast as the Amazon rainforest.
This is not just conservation. It is guardianship rooted in law, in custom, and in the lived experience of communities who have navigated and cared for these waters for generations.
PHOTO: Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Ocean Guardianship Grounded by Tradition
The Reserve is premised on a fundamental concept: that these waters and ecosystems are the home of the Indigenous Peoples that have occupied them for hundreds of centuries, and that their continued harmonious presence in this area will be the best way to secure it for the long term. It integrates customary governance systems, where Indigenous Peoples hold authority and responsibility for their care, as the strongest foundation for long-term ocean stewardship.
PHOTO: Alotau, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
Led by Ocean Countries
The initiative is proudly led by the Indigenous Peoples of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea — three nations united by ocean currents, shared knowledge, and a common responsibility.
Ministerial-level leadership from all countries has strengthened the regional momentum behind the initiative. They unite to bring sovereign ocean spaces under a shared vision of Indigenous Ocean guardianship and ecological stewardship. They commit to long-term ecological resilience and sustainable economic benefits for Ocean Peoples and marine biodiversity — consistent with international conservation standards but rooted in local leadership and traditional knowledge. Together, these nations are creating a unified yet locally grounded ocean governance model that blends traditional custodianship with modern science and policy.
PHOTO: Lau Lagoon, Malaita, Solomon Islands
Protection for People and Place
Melanesian Ocean Reserve recognizes Indigenous Peoples as global leaders for the future of ocean conservation.
From eco-tourism to small-scale Indigenous fisheries, sustainable aquaculture to renewable ocean energy, every permitted activity within the MOR is designed to strengthen communities without harming the ocean’s life force. It is built on a no-loss principal-protecting key revenue sources while creating new pathways for investment and inclusive, sustainable development. It is not only a model of environment protection- it is a living cultural seascape, where marine governance flows from the ancestral wisdoms of our people.
While the size of the Reserve is globally significant in scale, its real distinction lies in how it redefines ocean governance — centring Indigenous leadership, traditional knowledge, and a collective commitment to a regenerative marine future.
It is in the implementation of this framework, that prosperity will come from balance so livelihoods and ecosystems can grow together.
PHOTO: Taora Village, Solomon Islands
“For millennia, the Indigenous Peoples of Melanesia have been the wisest and most effective stewards of these sacred waters. That is why the governments of Melanesia are joining forces to create an unprecedented ocean reserve that honours our identities, livelihoods, and spiritual connections.” - The Honourable Jeremiah Manele, Solomon Islands Prime Minister.