Dr. Filimon Manoni from the Marshall Islands will be the incoming Pacific Ocean Commissioner.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Manoni, who served as Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will be the incoming Pacific Ocean Commissioner.
Secretary General Henry Puna during his statement at the adoption of the UN High Seas Treaty said Manoni in seeing through the implementation of the treaty.
Manoni he said has guided the work of the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner and provided strategic advice to the BBNJ or high seas treaty negotiations in the last few years.
Palau wanted to be the host of the proposed Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner office.
The leaders of Palau, Kiribati, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands were in Pohnpei to hold the Micronesian President Summit retreat in February, and one of the outcomes of the meeting is to host the OPOC office as well t as endorse Nauru to be the next secretary general of the Forum beginning in 2024 and proposed the establishment of a sub-regional office in Kiribati.
President Surangel Whipps has reiterated the country’s desire to host the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, which was part of the Suva agreement.