Fiji, June 10 -- "Ocean is our grandmother, and it is reminding us where true power lies" - Pacific Navigator Larry Raigetal.

For Master Navigator Larry Raigetal, the Pacific Ocean is more than a resource to be managed or a territory to be governed; it is a grandmother.

Speaking at the State of the Pacific Ocean Convening, the Assistant Professor at the University of Guam reflected on a lifelong relationship with the sea, describing it as a nurturing yet powerful force that cares for Pacific people but is increasingly reminding humanity of its authority through environmental change and the growing challenges facing the region.

"I do not remember whether I swam before I walked, but I was always taught to hold a healthy respect, almost a...