SUVA, Fiji: On August 22, 2025, His Excellency Carson K. Sigrah received a courtesy visit from Dr. Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice-President of Regional Campuses & Global Engagement from the University of the South Pacific (USP). Their discussions focused on opportunities to link fisheries priorities with education pathways in the Pacific.
This courtesy visit comes in the wake of the 2025 Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial (FFCMIN) where Fisheries Ministers recently endorsed the “Ocean Literacy Initiative”, an regional initiative aimed to enhance ocean management by enhancing understanding of both Western and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Dr. Manu highlighted the pressing educational challenges in the Pacific such as high student dropout rates and outmigration and underscored how this initiative can address these gaps. By embedding culturally-grounded approaches- such as traditional ecological knowledge, storytelling, and intergenerational knowledge sharing—into education systems, policy frameworks and community engagement, the initiative aims to both improve student retention and ensure a steady pipeline of future ocean manager deeply rooted in Pacific culture, tradition and identity.
Ambassador Sigrah welcomed the initiative, noting FSM’s history and identity rooted in culture and tradition –and noting the importance of engaging Fisheries and Education stakeholders to advance the work. Both parties recognized the critical need to raise awareness of fisheries and ocean issues within education curriculum, enhance career pathways aligned with ocean stewardship and fisheries management, and prepare Pacific youth to engage with emerging challenges in ocean governance.
