PM Manele meet Ocean Champions

Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele MP had an engaging and informed meeting with Ocean conservation advocator, the Prince of Monaco, Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi) and National Geography Pristine Seas expedition specialists onboard research vessel ‘ARGO’.

Prime Minister Manele was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Hon. Bradley Smoky Tovosia MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka MP.

Award- wining Hollywood star and longtime environmentalist who invested in ocean conservation, renewable energy and eco-friendly tourism, Leonardo DiCaprio also played an active role in promoting ocean protection during the meeting.

Paul Rose, National Geographic Pristine Seas’ expedition leader expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Manele and the Government for National Unity and Transformation for permitting his team to carry out the expedition in Solomon Islands. The success of the research is overwhelming, the expedition leader remarked.

Enric Sala, National Geography Pristine Seas Executive Director said, with the help of local experts, the expedition use cutting-edge technology to collect data on the state of Solomon Islands ocean and better understand the country’s nearshore marine ecosystem.

Prime Minister Manele and his delegation impressed on the ocean conservationists that data from the research is pivotal in aligning the country’s ocean policy with broader economic goals, ensuring that marine ecosystems contribute meaningfully to national economic growth.

The research outcome will fill data-gaps and present an opportunity to change the course of history for Solomon Islands in terms of Ocean protection related policies, the Prime Minister re-enforced.

The parties also considered follow up dialogues.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Hon. Bradley Smoky Tovosia also had the adventure of exploring the Savo underwater, onboard Pristine Sea’s submarine- The ‘ARGONAUTA.’

The drone-like underwater science lab can dive more than 1, 300 meters underwater and is equipped with mud and water samplers, camera, imaging sonar, underwater lighting, and scaling lasers.

The National Geography Pristine Seas expedition is producing a video documentary about the entire trip to be released in the first half of 2025.

The expedition is a partnership between the Government of Solomon Islands and National Geographic Pristine Seas.

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– OPMC PRESS SECRETARIAT