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FSM Information Services Palikir, Pohnpei Federated States of Micronesia

February 23, 2012

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Samson Pretrick an Ashley Carl, International Organization for Migration country officer for the FSM, signed a host agreement following the island nation’s ascension to IOM membership in Dec. 2011.

Carl said the host agreement is an important milestone in the relationship between IOM and the FSM, which will facilitate the appropriate framework for future collaboration and assistance.

Pretrick said he was looking forward to the ongoing partnership between the FSM and IOM and commented on the importance of the agreement in light of FSM’s new membership status.

The agreement acknowledges IOM’s assistance already provided to the FSM, particularly in the areas of disaster preparedness and assisted voluntary returns.

Moreover, the agreement defines the nature of the relationship between IOM and the FSM and...

Volcanic activity, atmospheric CO2 blamed

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Feb. 23, 2012) - Scientists say warmer and more acidic seawater is affecting the coral reefs off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

A team of researchers has been studying Milne Bay, off PNG.

They say the high levels of carbon dioxide seeping from the volcanic activity below the seabed is causing the ocean’s pH levels to fall, increasing the acidity.

Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is also entering sea water.

Dr. Katharina Fabricius from the Australian Institute of Marine Science led the research team.

She spoke to Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat about the effect of increasing acidity on coral reefs.

"There’s very few species of coral that can handle those high concentrations," she said.

Economic progress will be slow without changes

By Rachna Lal

SUVA, Fiji (FijiSUN, Feb. 23, 2012) - The International Monetary Fund says Fiji’s economic growth is unlikely to exceed two per cent unless structural reforms are accelerated.

The revelation was made in the IMF’s Staff Report on 2011 Article IV consultations released yesterday.

The report noted Fiji’s economy is growing at a very slow pace and overshadows all other economic concerns.

It indicated that while growth should improve in 2011 and beyond, it seemed unlikely, given political and economic constraints, however structural reforms are essential.

"Medium-term prospects appear to be relatively weak unless structural reforms can be accelerated.

"Growth should slow in 2012, as the natural bounce-back from 2009 to 2010 fades.

"While trend growth could improve modestly thereafter, moving to a significantly higher level of potential growth would require an improved...

Japanese vessel fined $125,000

By Giff Johnson

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, Feb. 24, 2012) - Thousands of pounds of shark fins, skins, carcasses and fishing gear have been confiscated in the Marshall Islands and one vessel fined US$125,000 as fisheries and police officers enforce a new ban on shark fishing in this western Pacific nation.

The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority levied a US$125,000 fine against the Japanese tuna transshipment vessel Satsuma, the first fine issued under a new fisheries law banning all shark fishing and products that went into force at the end of 2011, said the Authority’s enforcement officer Marcella Tarkwon Wednesday.

"It is illegal to have sharks on board," said Authority Director Glen Joseph.

The Marshall Islands began enforcing the ban on sharks and shark fins late last year, initially confiscating gear and shark fins but not issuing fines. Instead, enforcement officers put commercial...