The Australian government is helping Pacific island countries to define their maritime zones and secure their rights within those zones.
Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne in Suva Photo: RNZ/Lice Movono
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said through its Office of the Pacific, the Australian government has established a dedicated Pacific maritime boundaries section to work closely with Pacific nations and help them secure their rights and entitlements stemming from maritime zones.
She said Canberra is providing additional funding of $US2.4 million to the Pacific Community for addressing the risks to maritime boundaries from sea-level rise, and other climate change related impacts.
Ms Payne said Australia has now spent a total of $US5.9 million on Pacific maritime boundaries.
Since 2011, 15 shared boundaries have been negotiated and more than half of the Pacific island states have revised their maritime zone limits and lodged this information with the United Nations.