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The Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy
was approved by
Pacific Island leaders in 2002. It underscores the importance of the
ocean to Pacific Island nations and communities and serves to unify a
number of existing regional initiatives that address issues relevant to
management and development of ocean and coastal resources and
environments.
The Regional Ocean Policy stems from "a regional effort to achieve
responsible ocean governance." The vision of the region's leaders, as
embodied in the policy, is a "healthy ocean that sustains the
livelihoods and aspirations of Pacific Island communities". The
Policy's goal is to ensure the future sustainable use of the ocean and
its resources by both Pacific Island communities and their external
partners. The Policy views the ocean broadly, defining it "to include
the waters of the ocean, the living and non-living elements within, the
seabed beneath and the ocean-atmosphere and ocean-island interfaces." |
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The Ocean Policy reflects
some essential facts:
- the ocean is a transboundary and dynamic
resource;
- threats to the ocean's long-term integrity are
increasing in both number and severity;
- sustainable economic and social development in
the region are dependant on wise use of the ocean and its resources.
Although international law and instruments
confer rights on Pacific Island communities relating to the use of the
ocean and its resources, these rights are tied to responsibilities that
relate to the sustainable development, management and conservation of
the ocean's living resources and to the protection of the ocean
environment and its biodiversity |
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Five principles are
central to the goal of sustainable use of ocean resources.
These principles call for:
- Improving the
understanding of the ocean
- Sustainably
developing and managing the use of ocean resources
- Maintaining the
health of the ocean
- Promoting the
peaceful use of the ocean
- Creating
partnerships and promote cooperation
These guiding principles are defined in the context of the
over-arching principle of sound management, or:
- The need to
improve ocean governance
Together these 5 guiding principles and the over-arching
sentiment of sound ocean governance provide the thematic directions and
objectives for the Regional Ocean Policy and for its implementation.
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