Islands Business

PRESS RELEASE!! SSC to Review Fisheries Data and Management Strategies The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet Dec. 12-13, 2024, to address key issues affecting fisheries management in the Pacific Islands. Electronic Monitoring Program Development for Western Pacific Fisheries: Electronic monitoring (EM) is a voluntary program in Western Pacific longline fisheries for the purpose of research and development. The SSC will discuss decision points the Council may take to transition EM to required monitoring. The Council is considering options for EM implementation, including whether it should be implemented as a phased-in and optional or fully mandatory program, its scope across fisheries, and how it will supplement existing logbook and human observer programs. The SSC may advise the Council on EM authorization and provide guidance on processing EM data to improve the estimation of protected species interactions in fisheries. American Samoa Bottomfish Revision: In June 2023, the SSC recommended the Council revise the American Samoa Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan to update the bottomfish management unit species list and explore a “rate-based” approach to annual catch limits for data-limited fisheries. The SSC may advise whether this flexible “Tier 6” method should apply solely to American Samoa bottomfish or be expanded to other regional fisheries. Main Hawaiian Islands Uku Update: The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) will present a 2024 update to the 2020 benchmark stock assessment for main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku, incorporating five additional years of catch, catch per unit effort and size data, along with corrections for recreational catch estimates. The updated assessment shows the fishery is healthy—not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. The SSC will review and potentially endorse recommendations from a stock assessment review panel that the assessment is the best available science for management. Strategic Planning: The SSC will discuss progress on its strategic planning exercise, launched at the 153rd meeting in September, to shape its work and membership for the coming years. The initiative aims to address evolving fishery management challenges while enhancing the recruitment and retention of top scientists. Learn more @ https://t.ly/xYUGn #conservation #fisheries #monitoring #sustainability #partnernews

October 6, 2024 is a significant milestone for Japan, marking 70 years since its commencement of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 1954. Over these seven decades, as a major global partner, Japan has extended its cooperation programs to 190 countries and regions, contributing to their economic and social development as well as peace and prosperity in the global community. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is responsible for administrating Japan’s ODA, offering a wide variety of cooperation programs, including finance and investment cooperation, technical cooperation, and other services including emergency aid and the dispatch of volunteers. 2024 is also special year for JICA Fiji Office, as JICA Fiji Office celebrates 40th anniversary of the establishment. Despite the significant efforts by the international communities, many global challenges remain unresolved. Rather, issues such as Climate Change, Armed Conflict, Pandemics, Natural Disasters, Economic Crises, and other threats have become more complex and interlinked, leading to the compound crises. The international community needs to work harder and more closely than ever to overcome these compound crises. In the PICs, Climate Change is often referred to as “The Single Greatest Threat”, and Climate Change Mitigation through promoting decarbonization is now urgently needed. Although Renewable Energy (RE) power generation such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine are gradually deployed as a countermeasure against Climate Change, Diesel Engine Generator (DEG) is still the major source of power supply in most PICs. As these countries rely on imports for almost 100% of their fuel, they are also vulnerable to the impacts of transportation costs and price volatility, which is an energy security issue. In response to this situation, the “Project for Introduction of Hybrid Power Generation System in the PICs” was launched by JICA in 2017 and completed in June 2023. A hybrid power generation system makes the best use of two generation technologies, namely DEG and variable RE generation such as PV system. Although DEG enables a stable power supply, fuel costs and periodical maintenance costs are more expensive, creating a considerable burden for power companies. On the other hand, variable RE generation such as PV offers low operation cost and less impact on our environment, however it does not provide a stable power supply without appropriate stability measures because their power generation fluctuates according to weather conditions. Read more @ https://t.ly/uULl1 #collaboration #innovation #resilience #sustainability #sponsoredcontent

When COP29 closed in the early hours of November 24, parties had set a goal for at least US$300 billion annually by 2035 to help fight climate change in developing countries. But this finance goal was harshly criticised, with developing nations who had sought over US$1 trillion in assistance calling the agreement “insulting” and arguing it did not give them the vital resources they required to truly address the complexities of the climate crisis. https://t.ly/eK3mk

PNG’s Bougainville leader sees Independence by 2027 Papua New Guinea’s copper- and gold-rich Bougainville region is set to declare independence by 2027, eight years after a landslide vote to secede, its leader said Wednesday. The region – home to about 300,000 people and a vast, long-shuttered copper and gold mine – voted 97.7% in favour of independence in a 2019 referendum. But some analysts say it is unclear whether Papua New Guinea will agree to let the region break away anytime soon, and what form its future status will take. More @ http://surl.li/uqubki #bougainville #independence #papuanewguinea

PRESS RELEASE!! Global Development Conference 2024 concludes The Global Development Conference (GDC) 2024 was hosted by the Global Development Network (GDN) in partnership with the Government of Fiji and The University of the South Pacific (USP) from November 26 to 28, 2024. The conference brought together climate experts, researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, and students to engage in impactful discussions on advancing climate resilience within the local context. This year’s conference was attended by a diverse group of over 700 participants from nearly 100 nationalities, with more than 200 attending in person and 500 joining online. Notably, 50% of the participants were women, highlighting the conference’s commitment to inclusivity and gender equity. Together, they embodied the spirit of global collaboration. The sessions explored critical themes of climate resilience, sustainable development, and innovative adaptation strategies, with a particular focus on the unique challenges and opportunities in the Pacific region, and local solutions. These sessions were organised by GDN, USP, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Sasakawa Peace Foundation / 公益財団法人 笹川平和財団 (SPF), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), featuring speakers from numerous leading development organisations worldwide. Over the course of the event, workshops hosted by GlobalDev, USP, FERDI, Live & Learn International, Impact Dragonfly, and Australian Catholic University addressed a wide range of topics aimed at enhancing climate awareness, communication, and skills development. Read more at http://surl.li/srjrxt #collaboration #gdn #inclusivity #resilience #sustainability #usp #partnernews

What’s in store for Pacific Island nations under Trump 2 Depending on who you ask, Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House holds a promise or poses a threat. Trump is one of the world’s most polarizing figures. He can bring excitement; he can trigger anxiety. Even Pacific Island leaders can’t be indifferent to the result of the U.S. presidential elections. With a combined sense of optimism and uncertainty, they sent their courtesy congratulations to Trump following the election. Why does he matter? The White House may be more than 4,000 miles from the Pacific Ocean, but the tentacles of policy decisions from Washington reach the island region. Climate change, for example, is at the core of the Pacific Island nations’ security concerns and Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2019 naturally causes apprehensions for the region. Many are concerned that Trump—who called climate change “a big hoax”—will disengage from funding climate action programs in the region. Full story at http://surl.li/dewihm #climatechange #donaldtrump #us

MEDIA RELEASE!! Pacific Legal Network Announces New Member Firm in Cook Islands Pacific Legal Network (PLN) is very pleased to announce our newest member firm, Rokoika Law, a boutique law firm based in the Cook Islands. Under the leadership of Lavi Rokoika, Rokoika Law has established itself as an experienced provider of legal services in a wide range of practice areas including corporate law, real estate, and intellectual property. This alliance is a significant step in strengthening PLN’s ability to provide seamless, local and regional expertise to clients across the Pacific. We are looking forward to our continued collaboration with Rokoika Law to bring even greater value to our clients. Lavi Rokoika brings over twenty years legal experience including an instrumental role in shaping significant laws in the region such as Fiji’s Air Navigation Regulations and the Cook Islands’ Transport and Public Health Laws, demonstrating her in-depth understanding of the legal landscape. Lavi has a great ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, seamlessly bridging social, economic, and cultural differences. Her exceptional interpersonal skills, combined with a deep sense of empathy, make her a sought-out advisor, offering clients support and confidence throughout their legal experience. Read more at http://surl.li/ikhftw #collaboration #empowerment #expansion #pln #rokoikalaw #partnernews

Tonga to name new PM on Christmas eve after Sovaleni’s resignation Tonga will select a new Prime Minister on Christmas eve, 24 December following the resignation of Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, which was accepted by King Tupou VI Monday. During Monday’s Parliament session, the King’s Private Secretary, Sione Fifita, announced the acceptance of Sovaleni’s resignation. More at http://surl.li/jnzzqd #pm #resignation #tonga

Panguna human rights report fuels Bougainville demands for Rio Tinto-funded mine clean-up The first large-scale environmental impact assessment of Rio Tinto’s abandoned Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea has found local communities face life-threatening risks from its legacy. The independent study was initiated after frustrated landowners in PNG’s Autonomous Region of Bougainville took their long-standing grievances against Rio Tinto to the Australian government in 2020. British Australian Rio Tinto has accepted the findings of the report released on Friday but has not responded to calls by landowners and affected communities to fund the clean-up. Full story @ https://t.ly/ayHqy #bougainville #mine #panguna #png

Fiji-Canada Business Council to launch, strengthening economic ties The newly-established Fiji-Canada Business Council hopes to tap into the opportunities presented by the 100,000 plus diaspora in Canada. “We are here to help Canadian businesses and investors navigate the opportunities in Fiji,” Investment Fiji CEO, Kamal Chetty said at the launch of the council last week. The Council is being established following a business mission to North America earlier this year. More at https://t.ly/vVoMs #collaboration #diaspora #investment #opportunities