AT the close of the 5th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival in Suva, the screening of Oceans with David Attenborough sparked a vital conversation on the urgent need to protect our oceans.
It was the panel discussion afterward, featuring key Pacific voices, which brought a clear call for action rooted in local knowledge and long-term strategy.
Soapi, Coordinator of the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science, opened the discussion by sharing her deep personal connection to the ocean.
“The film was a rollercoaster of emotions,” she said.
Having spent years as a marine natural products researcher and diver, Soapi spoke of the ocean’s mysterious beauty and medicinal potential. But she also expressed sadness and frustration at seeing destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling.
“Watching the little fish swim for its life was heartbreaking,” she said.
Soapi challenged continued subsidies for harmful fishing methods that contribute to ocean damage and CO₂ emissions.
She emphasized the critical role of communities, many of whom have been protecting ocean areas for generations through customary practices.
However, she warned that these communities often do not receive enough benefits from conservation efforts.
“During a recent visit to one of the largest uninhabited islands in the South Pacific, I saw community members unhappy because they weren’t seeing enough economic or social gains from protecting their environment,” Soapi said.
To address this, she called for stronger legal empowerment of communities so they can enforce protections effectively. She also stressed the need for better support and training for local wardens and rangers.
“Too often, outsiders come to coach or manage these areas, but real success depends on empowering the people who live there,” she explained.
Another major challenge she highlighted is retaining young people trained in marine science.
“We have many graduates from the University of the South Pacific ready to work in ocean conservation, but jobs are limited. We need to create opportunities for them to stay and contribute to their communities.”
Dr. Manu Tupou-Roosen, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor at USP, brought a broader policy perspective. She described Oceans as a powerful reminder of both the ocean’s beauty and humanity’s responsibility to protect it.
“Our region is 96% ocean,” Tupou-Roosen said.
“This is who we are, our identity and livelihood.” She urged investment in education that combines formal science with traditional knowledge.
“Our five-year-olds today will be the ocean custodians of 2050. We must prepare them well.”
The panel’s insights made clear that ocean conservation in the Pacific must be culturally grounded, community-led, and supported by strong policies.
The festival was more than a film event; it was a call to scale up action to protect the Pacific’s precious seas for current and future generations.