25 May 2016, Apia, Samoa -  The Pacific islands are a step closer to having their very own Pacific Climate Change Centre to be hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) campus in Apia, Samoa. A special signing between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Government of Samoa, with SPREP to finalise the minutes of discussion which marks the end of the preparatory survey took place in Apia today.  This is the final stage before submission to the Cabinet of the Government of Japan in July, followed by the signing of the Exchange of Notes in August. ”The Samoan Government is excited to be part of this project. It reflects the priority the Government attaches to the climate change agenda,” said Lavea Tupaimatuna Iulai Lavea, Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Samoa.  “I hope that many Pacific Islanders will benefit from the training provided through the centre and tha...

Tuna insiders at the Bangkok Tuna Market say tuna prices have stagnated at US$1600-$1650 per metric tonne for a number of reasons. World Tuna Purse Seine Boat Owners Association President (WTPO) Francisco Tiu Laurel said prices have stagnated a little because no one is really selling or buying. He said most parties were waiting for the Bangkok Tuna conference to end before changing prices. Parties to Nauru Agreement Commercial Manager Maurice Brownjohn said prices remained firm at about $1650 per metric tonne and were unlikely to change dramatically in the short term: “The United States treaty fleet landings, which are significant in the overall BKK supply, are now hitting the processor's  cold stores. But landings remain modest, cold store inventories overall  remain low so demand  remains firm despite the canned markets remaining soft on the back of price hikes.  With the annual Fish Aggregating Device closure imminent mid year, it will see the ...

Climate change is now recognised as a factor driving the movement of people around the world - Internationally, migration, displacement and human mobility are recognized in the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage, and further reinforced through the Paris Agreement in 2015. As Pacific Island countries increasingly experience the effects of climate change, more Pacific governments will need to consider options for dealing with human mobility. Pacific Islands Forum countries have been a leading voice on the global stage on the issue of climate change and human mobility, and will have at least three opportunities in 2016 to engage in policy advocacy that influences the way human mobility is conceptualised and resources mobilised, for the region.  They are the  World Humanitarian Summit  (23 rd -24 th  May), the  UNGA Summit on Migrants and Refugees  (September  19) , and  COP22  (7 th  ...

Noumea, New Caledonia  – A set of 20 identification cards outlining the description of 30 different species of whales, dolphins and seabirds have been produced by the Pacific Community (SPC) to assist Pacific Islands Regional Fisheries Observers with identifying species of special interest while onboard commercial tuna fishing vessels. The new waterproof pocket cards, which have been produced with financial assistance from the Japan Trust Fund, contain the common and scientific name of the species as well as outline key features that assist with their identification. They will be distributed to observers across the entire Pacific Islands region as part of SPC’s continuous efforts to ensure observers possess the necessary information and tools to accurately identify and record catch, as well as sightings of species of special interest and their interaction with fishing activities. “Recording accurate assessments of target fisheries stocks as well as recording the impact...

9 May, 2016 - Two European Union funded projects in the Pacific are working together to expand their effectiveness and reach, and deliver improved environmental and public health outcomes across the region. In New Caledonia last month, representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and PacWaste attended a three-day INTEGRE project workshop at the headquarters of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea. The INTEGRE project, which promotes integrated coastal zone management, and the Pacific Hazardous Waste Management (PacWaste) project, are collectively injecting close to 20 million euros in European Union funding across communities in 14 Pacific island countries, four overseas countries and territories (OCTs) and Timor-Leste. Mr Jesús Laviña, Head of Section for Natural Resources and Infrastructure at the European Union Delegation for the Pacific, explains that while the two projects have different focus areas, there are numerous s...

Forty three Solomon Islanders undertook a rigorous training program on conducting investigations into alleged corrupt activities or misconduct over the last two weeks.  Last Friday, the candidates were granted a Certificate IV in Government (Investigations) – an internationally accepted qualification. Building the capacity of investigators aims to deliver a long-term benefit. Effective and competently conducted investigations significantly improves the ability of decision makers to implement appropriate outcomes following investigations, be they criminal, administrative or disciplinary actions, or systemic improvements designed to prevent misconduct or maladministration occurring in the future. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury has been a key advocate for this training, “Strong investigation capacity means strong governance, and all Solomon Islanders will benefit.” The Certificate is an internationally recognized qualification which ...