Seychelles reinforced its position as a global leader in ocean governance and sustainable blue economy development during the Island States Ocean Summit: Sustainable Ocean Action for Resilient Islands, held in Tokyo, Japan, from 3–4 June 2026.
The Summit brought together Heads of State, Ministers, senior government officials, international organisations, development partners, research institutions, civil society organisations and private sector representatives from approximately 35 island and maritime nations. Convened by The Nippon Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the Summit focused on strengthening cooperation among island states and advancing practical solutions to address climate change, biodiversity loss, marine pollution, ocean degradation and sustainable economic development.
Seychelles was represented by the Principal Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Blue Economy, Hon. Wallace Cosgrow, accompanied by Ms Ashley Dias, Principal Programme Development Officer, Department of Blue Economy.
A central theme of the Summit was the promotion of Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management (SOPM) as an integrated approach to balancing ocean conservation, sustainable economic development, climate resilience and social priorities. Participants highlighted the growing need for science-based, coordinated and whole-of-government approaches to ocean governance in response to increasingly complex environmental and development challenges.
One of the key outcomes of the Summit was the launch of the OCEAN STATES INITIATIVE, a new ten-year framework aimed at supporting island states through enhanced capacity development, scientific cooperation, international partnerships and implementation support. Participants also welcomed plans for the establishment of an OCEAN HUB, a global platform designed to connect island states with scientific expertise, innovation, policy support and strategic partnerships.
During the Summit, Principal Minister Cosgrow highlighted Seychelles’ internationally recognised achievements in marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries management, marine conservation, innovative Blue Bond financing mechanisms, debt-for-nature swaps and integrated blue economy governance. He underscored the importance of ensuring that Small Island Developing States remain at the centre of global ocean governance discussions, noting that island states collectively manage vast ocean areas that are critical to global biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable development.
The Minister also emphasized that sustainable ocean management is fundamental to the future prosperity and resilience of island nations and called for increased support for island states in areas such as ocean science, capacity development, climate adaptation and sustainable financing.
Discussions throughout the Summit focused on strengthening climate resilience through improved ocean observation systems, enhanced access to scientific information, multi-hazard early warning systems and integrated ocean planning approaches. Participants also explored innovative financing mechanisms capable of supporting sustainable ocean management and attracting investment into blue economy sectors.
The Summit highlighted the importance of moving beyond planning towards implementation, with particular emphasis placed on strengthening institutional coordination, governance arrangements, inter-ministerial cooperation and long-term investment in capacity development.
On the margins of the Summit, Principal Minister Cosgrow held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of the Government of Japan, The Nippon Foundation, IOC-UNESCO, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and private sector stakeholders. Discussions focused on opportunities to strengthen cooperation in ocean science, fisheries management, ocean governance, climate resilience, maritime security, innovative ocean finance and maritime domain awareness.
For Seychelles, the Summit provided an important platform to reinforce its international leadership in ocean governance and blue economy development while contributing to discussions that are expected to influence future global processes, including implementation of the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the 2027 Ocean Decade Conference, CBD COP17 and COP31.
The launch of the OCEAN STATES INITIATIVE was particularly significant for Seychelles as it aligns closely with national priorities relating to implementation of the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable blue economy development and evidence-based ocean governance.
The Summit concluded with a strong call for enhanced international cooperation among island states and reaffirmed the importance of sustainable ocean planning and management as a practical framework for delivering conservation, economic development and climate resilience objectives.
As implementation of the Summit outcomes progresses, Seychelles is well positioned to continue exercising leadership in international ocean governance processes while leveraging new partnerships, scientific cooperation opportunities and innovative financing mechanisms to advance national priorities for sustainable ocean management and blue economy development.
