HRH Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho represented the Kingdom of Tonga at the International Ocean Science Congress (OOSC2025) in Nice, France, from 3-6 June
The Princess attended the Congress in her capacity as an Ambassador for the International One Ocean Science Congress, joining a cohort of global leaders committed to elevating the Ocean’s Voice to the Highest Level.
The Tonga High Commission in London stated that the Princess is a long-standing advocate for the protection of the marine environment and the cultural and ecological resilience of the Pacific. She has led initiatives in youth development, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship across Tonga and the broader region.
Princess Angelika Latufuipeka delivered the Keynote Address at the first session of the OOSC2025 at the Quai Amiral Infernet in Port Lympia.
“This conference is a powerful convergence where scientific understanding, urgent climate realities, and millennia-old Indigenous wisdom combine. Your collective work is the wellspring for tomorrow’s solutions and for this, I thank you – Malo ‘aupito,” she said.
She reflected on the environmental realities confronting the Kingdom of Tonga, where the observable effects of climate change on coral reefs, marine biodiversity, and the food security of Tonga’s ngaahi kolo (village communities) are pressing issues. She reaffirmed Tonga’s leadership in advancing innovative and culturally rooted approaches to marine conservation.
“To lead this movement for legal personhood is a transformative step to expressing our kinship not only with these sentient beings but with the Moananui—the great ocean. This ancient and modern vision is becoming tangible,” she said.
Two landmark initiatives: the Mafai ’o e Tofua’a Whale Personhood Act 2025 and the Moananui Sanctuary Agreement, are supported by the Pacific Whale Fund. These frameworks are enabling the expansion of legal protections for whales across a region encompassing more than 12.5 million square kilometres, from Tonga’s Exclusive Economic Zone to the far reaches of Polynesia.
“One day soon, it may even come alive here in the French Riviera,” she said.
Offering a vision of hope and responsibility, the Princess concluded: “We are not merely changing laws; we are redefining the world’s relationship with the living ocean and the living whale. Today, Tonga stands for all our ocean relatives. Let us ensure the ancient songs of the tofua’a resonate across the Moananui, not as a last cry, but as a declaration of life for generations of makapuna to come—our future scientists and guardians of this vital realm.”
Following the meeting, the princess visited the Téthys II, an oceanographic vessel, that undertakes scientific research missions mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel also contributes to long-term observations of the marine environment, as well as research and trial missions in various fields of marine technology.
Blue Economy Finance Forum
Following her engagements in Nice, the Princess will travel to Monaco to attend the Blue Economy Finance Forum, continuing her advocacy for sustainable ocean economies and Pacific-led financing models that are inclusive, respectful, and future-focused. The Forum is an annual high-level gathering that promotes sustainable financing for ocean-based industries. It aims to mobilize capital and policy support for projects that enhance marine conservation, promote blue innovation, and foster equitable economic opportunities for coastal and island nations.
Tonga, like many Pacific nations, is deeply reliant on ocean resources for its food security, economic livelihoods, and cultural identity, while also being among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and ocean degradation.
The eldest child of King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u, Princess Angelika Latufuipeka is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy at the Australia National University.
