PORT VILA; The President of Torba Province, Edgar Haward, and the Premier of Temotu Province, Solomon Islands, have made a landmark commitment to establish a massive transboundary Marine Protected Area (MPA) in their shared ocean space.
The announcement follows a face-to-face meeting in Port Vila over the weekend — a rare gathering between the two provincial leaders — to discuss shared challenges, historic ties, and future opportunities.
President Haward said, Torba was honored to host Temotu, its neighbor across national solwara borders, recalling how both countries resolved their maritime boundary after 33 years of talks by signing the 2016 Motalava Treaty based on kastom.
“We decided that our border is not a fence, but a bridge — our Melanesian Corridor,” he said.
In 2024, the two provinces signed the Tirvau Bilateral Agreement in Honiara to jointly manage their shared waters.
Now, both leaders say the threats facing their ocean — including climate change, illegal fishing, ocean warming, acidification, and declining fish stocks — demand urgent, united action.
Premier of Temotu warned that science shows their reefs are dying and key fish species are disappearing. “We will stop this. We can regenerate our solwara. It is within our power and ability to reverse these threats through full protection,” he said.
The proposed MPA aims to ensure total recovery of marine ecosystems, strengthen food and nutrition security, and open new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. Both provinces will seek support from the Melanesian Spearhead Group to advance the initiative.
The formal legal declaration of the MPA will be made in September during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit in Honiara.
“Today, Torba and Temotu are committed to allowing our shared ocean space to regenerate — for our people, our countries, our Pacific, and our planet,” the leaders declared.
By Essen Jack
VBTC News
