Papua New Guinea plans largest marine sanctuary in Melanesia

By Ron Rocky Coloma

Papua New Guinea plans to establish the largest no-take marine protected area in Melanesia, creating a vast ocean sanctuary that officials say will protect globally significant marine biodiversity while supporting the long-term sustainability of the country's fisheries.

The proposed Western Manus Marine Protected Area would cover more than 214,000 square kilometers of ocean in the Bismarck Sea, an area nearly the size of the United Kingdom.

The sanctuary would prohibit fishing and other extractive activities and become a cornerstone of the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves, a regional conservation initiative involving Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu.

The announcement was made during the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby, where leaders and conservation groups gathered to discuss ocean protection across the Pacific.

"We are excited to take a historic step in implementing the Melanesia Ocean Corridor of Reserves by announcing the formal creation of the Western Manus National Marine Sanctuary," Jelta Wong, minister of Papua New Guinea's National Fisheries Authority, said in a statement.

Wong said the proposed sanctuary would cover roughly 9 percent of Papua New Guinea's exclusive economic zone and become the largest no-take marine protected area in Melanesia.

Located within the Coral Triangle, one of the most biologically diverse marine regions on Earth, the protected area includes underwater mountains, canyons and deep-sea habitats that serve as a migration corridor for sharks, rays, whales, dolphins, turtles and seabirds.

Government officials said the sanctuary supports the country's goal of protecting 30 percent of its waters by 2030, part of a broader international effort known as the 30x30 initiative.

"We take our commitment to protect 30 percent of our waters by 2030 very seriously, and this new MPA brings us one large step closer to that goal," said Yvonne Tio, executive manager of Papua New Guinea's Conservation and Environment Protection Authority.

Scientists say the area remains one of the least explored marine ecosystems in the Pacific. Surveys have documented more than 700 reef fish taxa and more than 300 hard coral species, as well as deep-sea creatures rarely observed in the region.

Research conducted in 2024 by National Geographic Pristine Seas, in partnership with Papua New Guinea agencies and conservation organizations, helped identify the region as a priority for protection. During a three-month expedition, researchers recorded deep-sea species never before documented in Papua New Guinea and found healthy coral reefs alongside signs of pressure from overfishing.

"At a time when coral reefs are in crisis, it's exciting to see the Western Islands still shimmering with healthy corals and schools of fish like wahoo, rainbow runners and jacks," said Lindsay Young, vice president of research at Pristine Seas.

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Young said the proposed reserve would help protect the connections between shallow reefs, deep-sea habitats and open-ocean ecosystems that support a wide range of marine species.

While commercial fishing would be prohibited inside the sanctuary, officials and conservation advocates argue the measure could strengthen fisheries outside its boundaries through a process known as spillover, where fish populations increase within protected waters and expand into nearby fishing grounds.

The proposed protected area includes waters where about 10 percent of Papua New Guinea's industrial tuna fishing occurs. Supporters point to studies showing tuna catch rates have increased near the boundaries of large marine protected areas elsewhere in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

"Papua New Guinea's commitment to establish the Western Manus Marine Protected Area is a powerful step toward meeting the global goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030," said Antha Williams, head of Bloomberg Philanthropies' environment and climate team.

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