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Marine and land sanctuaries to have ‘virtual dive, site’ experience

By B. Chen

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, July 31, 2014) – Two teams will be in American Samoa from September 1-15 to complete cutting edge visual mapping of the ocean and land view of sanctuary sites for American Samoa. According to NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, "This trip will be a milestone accomplishment in providing virtual dive and site experience of Fagatele, Fagalua/Fogama'a, Aunu'u, Ta'u, Muliava (Rose Atoll), and Swains Island." The two teams — one led by Kalewa Correa of the Papahanaumokukea National Marine Monument here to complete Google Street View — while the second team, Catlin Seaview Survey, will be in the territory to complete cutting edge visual mapping of the ocean and land view of the sanctuary sites in American Samoa. According to NMSAS superintendent Gene Brighouse, Catlin Seaview will use an SVI camera system which has done for the underwater...

First woman head of Pacific Island Forum Secretariat

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, August 1, 2014) – Former Papua New Guinea diplomat and World Bank employee Dame Meg Taylor has been elected the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The Papua New Guinean was the former PNG ambassador to the United States and until recently was a compliance ombudsman with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group based in Washington D.C.

She will be the first woman to head the PIF Secretariat and will be supported by two female deputy secretaries in Andie Fong Toy (economic, political governance and security) and Cristelle Pratt (strategic partnerships, coordination and corporate services). It will be the first time in the history of the organisation for it to be headed by women.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Dame Meg was entering the PIF Secretariat with a wealth of experience. "Beyond her professional...

Part of fishing mortality reduction plan for tuna

By Ben Chapman-Smith

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, July 31, 2014) – American purse seiners operating in Cook Islands waters have been banned from using fish aggregation devices for a four-month period.

Purse seine fishermen often use floating fish aggregation devices (FADs) in the open ocean to attract multitudes of fish, therefore maximising their catches and boosting efficiency.

The method is controversial because it can increase the by-catch of species like bigeye tuna, which is under threat across the region.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) agreed last year to reduce the overall fishing mortality of bigeye tuna by a combined 30 per cent in the purse seine and longline fisheries.

One measure includes establishing a four-month ban on deploying FADs in the purse seine fishery, which targets skipjack tuna using large nets.

Ministry of Marine...

Not doing enough on climate change action

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, July 31, 2014) – New Zealand needs to listen to Pacific Island leaders when it comes to climate change action, said the Green Party.

Discontent with New Zealand and Australia is rife at the 2014 Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ summit which commenced today in Palau.

The Finance Minister of the Cook Islands stated that climate change and frustration at the lack of action on it will be running themes at the Forum. He said there was a strong feeling that New Zealand was not doing enough to help their Pacific Island neighbours.

"John Key cannot hide behind the flawed logic of ‘New Zealand is too small to effect change’, when Pacific leaders are explicitly calling New Zealand out for his lack of action," said Green Party climate change spokesperson Kennedy Graham.

"The Forum last year called for a 10-20% reduction in carbon emission by 2020, but John Key’s Government only...