“My Fish is Your Fish” serves as a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility we all carry to protect our environment and our people, especially in the Pacific region, where the consequences of nuclear testing are still deeply felt. This was the message of Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa during yesterday’s Marshall Islands Nuclear Remembrance Day observance. The day, observed every March 21, marks the devastating legacy of nuclear tests carried out by the United States in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. Over 67 nuclear tests were conducted, particularly at Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll, exposing the local population to harmful radiation. Thousands of Marshallese people were displaced, and many continue to suffer from radiation-related illnesses and environmental damage that still affects the region today. The theme of this year’s remembrance, “My Fish is Your Fish,” is a reminder of the deep interconnectedness of the Pacific Islands. Waqa, noted how the nuclear testing not only harmed the people of the Marshall Islands but also devastated the marine environment, affecting the fish and the livelihoods of those dependent on the ocean. “As we remember those lost and honor those still suffering, we are reminded that the struggle for nuclear justice is a shared one. The health of the Pacific’s people and its environment are tied together,” Waqa stated. He emphasised that the Pacific Islands Forum stands in solidarity with the Marshall Islands in its fight for justice. He also acknowledged the strength and resilience of the Marshallese people, noting their ongoing advocacy for nuclear disarmament and recognition of the legacy of harm. The Marshall Islands Ambassador to Fiji, Junior Aini, his country’s efforts to seek revised compensation from the United States for the harm caused by the nuclear tests. “The Marshall Islands has announced that it will be seeking revised circumstances from the United States to acknowledge the decades of harm inflicted, which were not considered when the original compensation was negotiated,” Aini explained. Aini also highlighted regional efforts to address nuclear contamination, mainly through the CROP Nuclear Task Force, a coalition of regional organisations tasked with addressing the long-term effects of nuclear testing and the critical need for effective monitoring and management of nuclear contamination in the Pacific. Samuel Barton, a student at the University of the South Pacific, shared, “Today is significant for us Marshallese because our elders back then went through something significant in their lives that altered our way of living and our traditional practices, which have also been altered as well. Most of them have passed away. Some have passed away young because of the repercussions they experienced from the nuclear testing.” He added, “Even though all of us are from different islands, different countries, despite all that, we’re from the same ocean.” He concluded, “The theme for this ceremony really speaks to that unity, that we are all interconnected and must stand together in remembrance and justice.” The event ended with a strong show of solidarity as attendees marched around the campus in red. People from diverse backgrounds came together to honour the victims of nuclear testing and advocate for nuclear justice. As the event concluded, Waqa and Aini confirmed their commitment to the health and future of the Pacific, urging the community to unite in the fight for nuclear justice. “We must unite as one voice. Together, we will ensure that the Pacific remains a peaceful, nuclear-free region,” Waqa said.