Solomon Islands submits second continental shelf claim to UNCLSC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) wishes to inform that Solomon Islands appeared before the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) during its 66th Plenary Session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Friday, 13 February 2026, to present two joint submissions concerning the North Fiji Basin and the Melanesian Borderlands Plateau regions.

For the North Fiji Basin region, the presentation was delivered in the morning session by all joint submitting states – Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.  The second presentation addressed the joint submission for the Melanesian Borderlands Plateau Region, by Fiji and Solomon Islands.

The joint submissions on North Fiji Basin region and Melanesian Borderlands Plateau region were formally submitted in July 2025, following which the Chair of the CLSC invited all submitting countries to address the Commission at its 66^th session, currently underway in New York.

These submissions are made pursuant to Article 76 (8) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework for coastal States to establish the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. For the three Pacific Island States, the establishment of their extended continental shelf would enable the states assert their entitlement and represents economic opportunities that could be derived.

The joint submissions for the North Fiji Basin region and the Melanesian Borderlands Plateau region is the culmination of more than ten years of sustained technical and regional collaboration among the three States.

They are also aligned with mandates from Pacific Islands Leaders calling for concerted action to secure maritime boundaries and extended continental shelf entitlements beyond 200 nautical miles. In addition, it embodies the spirit of the Ocean of Peace Declaration as endorsed in Honiara, that gave renewed commitment to maintaining peace and cooperation in the region.

The submitting states also recognize that this historic undertaking is aligned with the broader principles and aspirations of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, in promoting the sustainable use and stewardship of the marine resources in areas beyond national jurisdictions.

For Solomon Islands, the joint submissions for the North Fiji Basin region and Melanesian Borderlands Plateau region, is the country’s 3^rd submission to the CLSC. A joint submission on the Ontong Java Plateau together with PNG and FSM is currently being assessed by the Commission.

The Solomon Islands delegation was led by Her Excellency Jane Waetara, Permanent Representative of Solomon Islands to the United Nations, supported by Ms. Fiona Indu, Deputy Permanent Representative. Fiji’s delegation was led by Mr. Vueti May, Charge de Affairs, Deputy Permanent Representative, and Vanuatu, led by H.E Mr. Odo Tevi, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN. The delegations were supported by Mr. Malakai Vakautawale, Technical Advisor from the Pacific Community (SPC), and Dr. Alain Murphy, Technical Expert.

The Government of Solomon Islands acknowledges the commitment and of past and current officials of the National Taskforce led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade that that progressed both projects. Furthermore, expressed its sincere appreciation the Secretariat of Pacific Community particularly Mr. Malakai Vakautawale and Dr. Alain Murphy for the technical support and the United Kingdom for its continuous and valued support to this project, which has been instrumental in advancing the technical and legal processes underpinning these submissions.

Solomon Islands looks forward to the outcomes of the Commission’s consideration the joint submission in due course.

–MFAET PRESS RELEASE

The submissions for the Melanesia Borderlands Plateau region between Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu.