Solomon Islands amongst seven other Pacific nations pushing for extended maritime borders

Solomon Islands is among seven Pacific nations currently pushing for their maritime boundaries to be extended.

Representatives from the countries, which include the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and others, are in Brisbane discussing how they can secure rights over fish stocks, deep-sea minerals, oil and gas further out to sea.

Pacific countries currently only have jurisdiction over resources up to 200 nautical miles from their coastline which is referred to as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). With the current arrangement, any resources beyond the 200 nautical miles EEZ is a no man's land and anybody can exploit such deep sea resources.

PNG's Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Aisi, says if the United Nation agrees to extend the boundaries there will be many positives for Pacific communities.

"The protection of the Pacific region for the benefit of our people and our future generations is just as important as the contribution we make to the global community and probably that is one of the things that we don't talk about often," he said.

Source: ABC News