The British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, HE Anne Macro, participated in the launch of a technical workshop aimed at enhancing the management of the Ontong Java Plateau Extended Continental Shelf (ECS). This event saw the participation of senior officials and technical experts from the Pacific Community (SPC), the Federated States of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

This initiative is part of the UK’s broader commitment to bolster maritime security across the Pacific region. By supporting the SPC’s Integrated Ocean Management and Maritime Governance Program, the UK government aims to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, while upholding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In her remarks, High Commissioner Macro emphasized the importance of aligning support with the Pacific’s own priorities. “It is particularly important for us to support the work of Pacific-led regional institutions to ensure that the priorities being supported are the Pacific’s priorities. This approach is vital to the resolution of maritime boundaries and zones in the Pacific,” she stated.

The workshop, which runs from September 18 to 20, 2024, in Port Moresby, will focus on the recommendations provided by the Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding the original ECS submission. It will also outline the next steps for future submissions concerning the Eauripik Rise and Mussau Ridge ECS.

Funding for this initiative is derived from the UK’s Integrated Security Fund Pacific Program, which has enabled the SPC to strengthen the application of international maritime laws and support the Pacific Women in Maritime Association. Over the past few years, this support has facilitated the progress of submissions from Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands for various marine regions, including the North Fiji Basin and the Melanesian Plateau.