Big Ocean States

“We are often called small island states, but we consider ourselves big ocean states,” says President Moetai Brotherson of French Polynesia. This affirmation spurred our extensive and ongoing research on Big Ocean States around the world, from French Polynesia to Saint Kitts and Nevis, Vanuatu, Saint Lucia, and Greenland. To properly situate these states in today’s global order, we have now also introduced Big Ocean States into geopolitical discourse in Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica. 

French Polynesia illustrates what it means to be a Big Ocean State. All of the islands belonging to French Polynesia have a combined landmass of 4,500 square kilometers –only three times the size of New York City. However, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Pacific Ocean belonging to French Polynesia spans 5 million square kilometers, larger than the landmass of the European Union, which translates into a land-ocean ratio of roughly 1 to 1,100. 

A Big Ocean State is accordingly defined as a state or territory whose exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is significantly bigger than its inhabitable landmass and whose culture is ocean-centric. This article underscores and illustrates these two distinct dimensions that characterize Big Ocean States through the voices of leaders from several of these states.

Dimension 1: EEZ in the ocean is significantly bigger than its inhabitable landmass

Prime Minister Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis underscores the need to shift away from the “small island state” terminology, explaining that “there’s much more sea that we own than land” and that this reframing is necessary “to help people understand that the sea belongs to us as well.” The EEZ of Saint Kitts and Nevis is 78 times larger than its landmass.

Greenland also fits this Big Ocean State definition, as Aaja Chemnitz, a former Greenlandic member of the Danish Parliament, has highlighted in our documentary Under the world’s microscope: The local Greenland perspective rings loudly for the world to hear. Consequently, we have put emphasis on  inhabitable landmass. In Greenland, 400,000 square kilometers of inhabitable landmass stand in relation to more than 2 million square kilometers of EEZ.

This new ocean-centric definition acknowledges the actual size and importance of these states and highlights the significant ocean areas over which they have sovereignty, which they can develop in collaboration with international partners. These ocean areas can spur a range of economic opportunities, from traditional fishing to digital transformation empowered by undersea cables.

“I can tell you, the people who benefit most from our sea are not Caribbean people – it’s those who come in, fish our waters, take some of the best fish in the world, and sell it abroad,” highlights Prime Minister Drew. “We have not yet harnessed the 22,000 square kilometers of prime maritime space we have. Sustainable development is the foundation of how we explore it – but we have to maintain and preserve it at the same time.”

Dimension 2: Ocean-centric culture

While geopolitical strategic factors, as well as the lure of deep-sea mining, have become the focus of global discussion, the second dimension essential to understanding these states and their people is overlooked: the culture of Big Ocean States is ocean-centric. This seemingly obvious statement has real-life policy implications.

“It’s very obvious that we are ocean people …. There’s no separation of land and ocean in the traditional Polynesian culture – it’s just a continuum,” says President Brotherson. “And we have so many legends that tie us to the ocean. So, we cannot imagine living without the ocean. Everything is ocean related in our lives.” French Polynesian indigenous environmental activist Hinano Murphy echoes this sentiment: “Like my mom will say, I am the ocean. I am born ocean. I eat ocean. I think ocean. It’s there and you can’t miss it.” 

Big Ocean States’ ocean-centric approach to everyday life has a practical policy impact, as former Prime Minister Charlot Salwai of Vanuatu explains. “Integrating traditional knowledge and practice into modern environmental strategy has been key for Vanuatu’s success,” Salwai says. “This approach not only respects cultural heritage but also ensures that the solutions are effective and sustainable in the local context.” 

Conclusion

Keeping the inspiring words of President Brotherson and other leaders of Small Ocean States in mind, we look forward to continuing our work in giving Big Ocean States a global voice through our interview series with heads of state, our documentaries, articles, roundtables and Capstone workshops.