The Fijian Ministry for Foreign Affairs may invite Tongan counterparts to have talks over a long standing territorial dispute over the Tele ki Tonga and Tele ki Tokelau Reefs, also known as Minerva Reef.

The reefs lie to the south of Tonga and Fiji, and are closer to Tonga.

Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Inia Seruiratu, was reported by Fiji Village last week, saying that his ministry “is currently looking at inviting his Tongan counterpart to hold discussions over the Minerva Reef.” They first asked in November but there was no response from Tonga. He said that while Tonga believes that the reef is an island, Fiji believes “it is a submerged reef.”

Misunderstanding

Meanwhile, Captain Sione Ulakai, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) told Matangi Tonga Online yesterday that he agreed with the suggestion that the Fijian Minister and his Tongan counterpart need to sit down and resolve the misunderstanding peacefully.

Tele ki Tonga (southern atoll) and Tele ki Tokelau (northern atoll) are two submerged volcanic atolls that lie outside Tonga’s provisional EEZ, but have been declared Special Management Areas by Tonga (reserved for local fishing vessels only) due to their pristine coral reefs, high shark densities and healthy stocks of giant clams.

Territory

Tonga’s first Territorial Map was proclaimed on 24 August 1887, giving Tonga the longest continuous legal title to a maritime domain in the world.

Also known as the Minerva Reefs, Tele ki Tonga and Tele ki Tokelau were proclaimed as part of Tonga in 1972. An expedition with prison labour was sent to enforce the claim by building an artificial island with permanent structures above the high-tide mark. Arriving on 18 June 1972, the Flag of the Tonga was raised on the following day on North Minerva and on South Minerva on 21 June 1972. King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV announced the annexation of the islands on 26 June; North Minerva was to be renamed Tele ki Tokelau, with South Minerva becoming Tele ki Tonga. The Tongan claim to the reef was recognized by the South Pacific Forum in September 1972.

Tonga acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 2 August 1995 which established 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zones for countries.

Although the reefs are outside the provisional EEZ, Tonga considers the reefs are on an extension of the continental shelf of Tonga and a natural prolongation of the land territory of the Kingdom, and have a longstanding submission to the United Nations to extend the outer limits of its EEZ beyond 200 nautical miles to include the reefs.

Both Minerva Reefs are about 435 kilometres (270 mi) southwest of the Tongatapu Group. The atolls are on a common submarine platform from 549 to 1,097 metres (1,801 to 3,599 ft) below the surface of the sea.

North Minerva is circular in shape and has a diameter of about 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi). There is a small sand bar around the atoll, awash at high tide, with a small entrance into the flat lagoon with a somewhat deep harbour. South Minerva (which looks similar to an infinity symbol) is parted into the East Reef and the West Reef, both circular with a diameter of about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi). Remnants of shipwrecks and platforms remain on the atolls, and some navigation beacons.

In 2005, Fiji declared that it did not recognize any maritime water claims by Tonga to the Minerva Reefs under the UNCLOS agreements. In November 2005, Fiji lodged a complaint with the International Seabed Authority concerning Tonga's maritime waters claims surrounding Minerva.

The latest dispute over Minerva Reef between the Fijian Government and Tonga emerged early in 2011 when a navigational beacon that was erected on Tele ki Tonga for the benefit and safety of mariners was vandalised by Fijian soldiers.

The navigational beacon was restored and is under the operational scope of HMAF of Tonga.

Special Management Areas

Tonga has more recently in 2017 recognised the reefs to be Biophysically Special Unique Marine Areas. They were declared Special Management Areas by Tonga (reserved for local fishing vessels only) due to their pristine coral reefs, high shark densities and healthy stocks of giant clams. Overexploitation of fishing resources in other areas of Tonga makes the reefs important for protecting biodiversity in the Kingdom.

The Special Management Area was proclaimed for 12nm from Tele ki Tonga and Tele ki Tokelau. Corals and multiple species supported by coral reefs (clams, sharks) are protected under the Fisheries Management Act 2002 and Environment Management Act 2010. Sharks are afforded additional protection under the National Plan of Action for Sharks 2014–2016.

The site offers a safe anchorage to passing yachts, and is also an aid to navigation.