Oceans policy across the region is increasingly being treated as an economic resilience issue, as officials overseeing ocean and fisheries policy move to align marine protection, fisheries management and coastal livelihoods with longer-term growth and climate adaptation goals.
The shift reflects the growing role of ocean-based industries in food supply, employment and trade and the rising economic costs of climate-related shocks to fisheries and coastal communities.
"We are at an important juncture where high-level commitments must be translated into concrete actions and technical progress that strengthen the resilience of marine ecosystems and coastal communities," said Jinhee Seo, Lead Shepherd of the APEC Ocean and Fisheries Working Group.
"Our priority this year is to move from consensus to delivery, particularly on ocean resilience and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture," she added.
A key focus this year is advancing work toward the Ocean Resilience Enhancement Roadmap, mandated by the ministerial meeting in Busan last year, and intended to serve as a region-wide framework to help economies respond to environmental shocks while safeguarding fisheries productivity and coastal livelihoods. The roadmap is expected to bring together cooperation on fisheries and aquaculture, marine disaster response, data sharing and training on the use of ocean and climate information.
Discussions centered on translating existing commitments into concrete action, particularly in small-scale fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities that remain highly exposed to climate and market volatility.
Under the thematic discussions, economies put forward a pipeline of practical projects aimed at delivering near-term results. These include workshops on restoring coastal and marine ecosystems to reduce vulnerability to environmental and climate stress, initiatives to support community-based conservation and sustainable fisheries, and programs to improve food security through climate-resilient aquaculture and seaweed production.
Officials also highlighted efforts to deploy digital tools for marine monitoring and prediction, as well as strengthen early warning systems for ocean-related disasters. Several initiatives focus on helping small-scale fishers and aquaculture producers adapt to environmental change, modernize practices and better integrate into regional markets.
"As the host of APEC 2026, we suggest that future work should better bridge regional priorities with the global marine agenda," said Wang Antao, Deputy Director-General at China's Ministry of Natural Resources, in opening remarks in Guangzhou.
"This includes giving greater attention to the real needs of people in the region, such as marine ecosystem conservation and restoration, sustainable economic activity related to the ocean, marine disaster prevention and mitigation, and stronger ocean and coastal resilience," Wang added.
He further encouraged all economies to actively support and contribute to strengthening the group's initiatives, including the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Report, as a means of translating shared priorities into concrete and pragmatic actions.
Economies also discussed ocean literacy as an emerging area of focus, highlighting its potential role in strengthening public understanding of the ocean's contribution to economic development, climate stability and food systems, while encouraging broader participation in marine conservation and sustainable use.
Taken together, the initiatives reflect a broader shift in ocean governance across the Asia-Pacific; from managing sector-specific risks to embedding oceans policy within broader economic considerations, climate adaptation and sustainable growth strategies that directly affect communities and future generations.
