Special Envoy Minister Anthony M. Muller Attends the
1st Inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit (MOS26) in Papua New Guinea
Honorable Anthony M. Muller, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce, is representing Her Excellency President Dr. Hilda C. Heine and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) at the 1st Inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit (MOS26) being held from May 11–14, 2026 at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Hosted by Honorable James Marape, GCL, MP, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, under the theme “Ensuring Ocean Protection with Sustainable Ocean Economies,” the Summit has brought together Heads of State, Ministers, regional organizations, development partners, scientists, conservation leaders, and ocean stakeholders from across the Pacific and beyond to advance regional cooperation on ocean governance, marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, blue economies, and climate resilience.
The Summit marks a significant milestone for the Pacific region as leaders work toward a more coordinated and Pacific-led approach to ocean stewardship. Discussions throughout the week focus on marine protected areas, ocean financing, blue economy initiatives, marine scientific research, ocean governance, climate adaptation, and strengthening regional monitoring and enforcement efforts against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Minister Muller delivered remarks during Plenary 2: Ocean Leaders’ Pledges, Commitments and Ambitions, where he highlighted the Marshall Islands’ national and regional commitments to ocean conservation and sustainable ocean governance.
“The Marshall Islands comes to this plenary with a simple message: our pledges must be rooted in what we are already doing, our commitments must be owned by our communities, and our ambitions must match the scale of the ocean crisis before us,” Minister Muller stated.
In his address, Minister Muller highlighted the RMI’s establishment of its first national marine sanctuary in 2025, protecting approximately 48,000 square kilometers of ocean around the remote atolls of Bikar and Bokak. “By declaring these waters as national marine sanctuaries, the Marshall Islands has taken a decisive step to fully protect them from fishing and other destructive activities. This is not only an environmental decision. It is a decision about identity, food security, intergenerational responsibility and national stewardship,” he said.
Minister Muller also underscored the importance of community-led conservation through the Marshall Islands’ Reimaanlok conservation planning framework and the Protected Areas Network (PAN), emphasizing that conservation efforts must remain rooted in local communities, traditional knowledge, and sustainable livelihoods.
“This bottom-up process is one of the most important contributions the Marshall Islands can share. It reminds us that ocean protection succeeds when communities do not simply receive decisions, but help make them,” he noted. He further reaffirmed the RMI’s commitment to regional collaboration through the Micronesian Challenge 2030 and expressed support for the emerging Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR), highlighting the importance of Pacific solidarity in advancing ocean protection efforts.
“Let this Conference be remembered not only as a Melanesian achievement, but as a moment of Pacific unity. A moment when Micronesia stood with Melanesia. A moment when we moved from ambition to implementation, from isolated efforts to a connected Blue Pacific vision,” Minister Muller stated.
Throughout the Summit, leaders are expected to advance discussions on sustainable financing for marine protection, strengthen regional partnerships, and reinforce Pacific leadership in global ocean governance ahead of international environmental and climate negotiations.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands continues to advocate for stronger regional cooperation and Pacific-led solutions that protect marine biodiversity, strengthen food security, support sustainable economic opportunities, and safeguard the ocean for future generations.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
May 12, 2026