Understanding the Importance and Challenges of the ＂Blue Pacific＂ to Pacific Islanders

Sue Farran

《中华海洋法学评论》 42期 (2022/06) Pp. 21-46

摘要

The importance of the oceans is a topic of increasing significance to a wide range of sectoral actors from environmentalists, marine scientists, security analysts, climate change activists, public and private fisheries organisations and legal scholars. The oceans are also areas in which competing powers seek to achieve dominance. The Pacific is one of those oceans. Pacific islanders reached these islands by navigating the vast ocean; most live within a few kilometres of the coast; the ocean is associated with their stories of origin, their ancestors and is essential to their survival. But it also poses a number of ecological risks, either directly, or through the interventions of others. Rising seas as a result of climate change are one example. Depleting stocks of fish due to over-fishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing are another. Marine pollution from a number of sources poses further risks, as do the potential environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. Within the context of the long-standing relationship of Pacific islanders with the oceans that surround them this paper examines some of the threats they face, the strategies that are being adopted to secure sustainable futures for the next generations of islanders and the challenges that are presented by patchy and often imperfect legal frameworks.

關鍵字

Pacific island countries ； Marine pollution ； Rising seas ； Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing ； Deep-sea mining ； Legal challenges