Towards integrated National Ocean Policy in the South Pacific: competing and conflicting issues in Ocean Policy: Solomon Islands

Abstract

It has been over twenty years since UNCLOS came into existence and twelve years since it came into force, in addition to fourteen years since the historic "Earth Summit" was convened in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, yet the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are finding it extremely difficult to deal with many cross-cutting and multiple issues relating to ocean management. The challenge for the Pacific SIDS is clear, successive international, regional and national initiatives emphasizing sustainable environmental development and ocean management have no real impact at the rural communities' level. This paper examines the challenges facing Solomon Islands in the development of an Integrated National Ocean Policy, and offer recommendation guidelines as to how to design an Integrated National Ocean Framework so as to contribute to the effort to ensure that all benefits derived from the oceans are sustainable and reach through to the local communities.