My experience at the Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea was definitely one for the books. As the Oceania-Pacific High Seas Youth Ambassador under EarthEcho International and High Seas Alliance, my main goal is to represent Pacific youth voices in High Seas discussions and to continually advocate for the importance of the swift ratification of the High Seas Treaty across the Pacific region. However, at the OOC, I was a High Seas youth representative for all countries–this was an extremely humbling and honourable opportunity for me.
I had the privilege of being invited to speak at three different events: The Pacific Reception, High Ambition Coalition’s Side Event, and High Seas Alliance’s Side Event. At these, I spoke on various topics ranging from the importance of the High Seas in the Pacific region to the significance and imperative incorporation of traditional knowledge in sustainably managing the High Seas to the potential of youth and the need to amplify our voices.
At High Seas Alliance’s Side Event ‘From Busan to Nice: Accelerating Ambition in the Race for Ratification of the High Seas Treaty’, I shared my personal experience of swimming with whales in the Kingdom of Tonga and explained how that offered a direct connection to the urgency of ocean conservation, and humanized the High Seas Treaty for me. It transformed the Treaty from a distant international agreement into something more relatable and immediate. My encounter with the whales was a firsthand reminder that the ocean is not an abstract concept, it’s a living, breathing entity that we interact with. The future of our ocean–like the future of the whales–depends on the decisions we make today.
One key takeaway from the conference was that we can’t enhance ocean conservation without the input of youth. As young people, we are one of the most important stakeholder groups in the context of implementing the High Seas Treaty, after all, we will inherit the consequences of decisions made today and at conferences like the OOC. I wanted to make it clear throughout the conference that ratifying the High Seas Treaty is not just about securing our future; it’s about honouring our commitment to justice and equity. It’s about standing in solidarity with our fellow global citizens and saying yes to a future where all nations, big or small, have an equal voice in shaping and having ownership over the destiny of our ocean. Yes, it will be high-level diplomats and world leaders who will negotiate, adopt and ratify the Treaty, but over the next decade and more, it will be us youth who will be the ones who will have to work hard to achieve and implement the components and key goals set out in the Treaty.
To me, youth aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow—we are leading today, shaping change in powerful and transformative ways. Having the opportunity to engage directly with high-level delegates and bring forward the voices, concerns, and ideas of young people was deeply fulfilling. I didn’t just have a seat at the table–I used it. And as more youth step into these spaces, I’m confident we’ll continue to drive bold, necessary progress in ways the world can’t ignore.
Thank you so much to the organizers at the OOC and to all participants for making me feel like my voice was heard through the vast echoes of the ocean.