21 May 2026, Port Moresby - An interconnected Marine Protected Area spanning at least 6 million skm2 has been committed by Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu through the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR) Declaration and Framework 2026 - 2030.
Signed this month between the three Pacific Island countries, this newly established ambitious network of national and jointly managed protected areas will be the largest transboundary MPA in the world.
Within the MOCOR sits the Western Manus National Marine Sanctuary, also announced during the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit, by Papua New Guinea. This is a Marine Protected Area of 214,000km2, the largest in PNG’s history and will account for approximately 9% of its EEZ.
The Western Manus Protected Area supports PNG’s commitment to the 30 by 30 initiative adopted under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to protect at least 30% of the world’s oceans through MPA’s and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) by 2030.
“Papua New Guinea is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet,” said Hon Jelta Wong, Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources of PNG.
“Establishing the Western Manus Marine Protected Area will allow us to preserve and protect our ecological legacy and, at the same time, ensure that our ocean continues to provide people with what we need – food and a source of income.”
Papua New Guinea is a megadiverse biodiversity hotspot. It sits within the Coral Triangle, a marine region that spans parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste and is home to over 75% of the world’s coral species.
PNG is now also home to the Western Manus Marine Sanctuary that will sit within the MOCOR which aims to cut illegal fishing in the region by half, and will strengthen marine research, protect biodiversity rich areas and support coastal communities that rely heavily on our ocean for food and income.
“Pacific leadership and cooperation were clearly demonstrated this month, as Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu collectively affirmed their commitment to the protection and stewardship of our ocean,” said Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“We congratulate them for this investment in shared responsibility of our ocean for a Blue Pacific Continent. SPREP stands ready to support Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu as they implement the MOCOR Declaration and the Western Manus Protected Area,” said Mr Nawadra.
The inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit 2026 was held 11 – 14 May 2026 in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, the first dedicated platform to elevate Melanesian leadership in ocean stewardship, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience and strengthened regional cooperation.
The announcement of the West Manus National Marine Sanctuary took place on 13 May, following this the government of Papua New Guinea will begin the national process for legal designation.