The Samoa Seafarers and Maritime Association received an invitation from the Pacific Island Forum, PIFS (through the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner) to attend the Pacific Regional Ocean Policy and Governance Dialogue in Nadi 21 – 24 August 2023. SSMA President, Tufuga Fagaloa as representative was invited as part of civil society and stakeholder to Ocean Affairs and also representative of PIMLA (Pacific International Maritime Law Association).

The dialogue was useful to learn and exchange ideas in mapping ocean affairs for the region through the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commisioner (OPOC). There were representatives from various UN and regional entities that share same interests and experiences for our region to ensure we make informed decisions in relation to the use and managing of the ocean in a sustainable manner for future generations. There is lot of work to be done by OPOC and we all need to support from our various multi -disciplinary areas.

At various Talanoa sessions SSMA voiced the importance to have good robust policies to successfully guide every ocean activity from deep seabed mining, fisheries, shipping and the impact of climate change and pollution through plastics waste and marine pollution etc.

There was also an opportunity to discuss with representatives from Tahiti their issue with shortage of seafarers and the need to provide competition to domestic shipping monopoly.

OPOC is currently finalizing its regional ocean policy and implementation plan so that the pathway can be clear in terms of of the position of stakeholders such as SSMA & PIMLA.