In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Forum DSG Solofa warns climate change is Pacific’s ‘single greatest threat’
2. PACIFIC — Samoan leader calls out great power ‘bullying’ as hosts NZ prime minister
3. PACIFIC — Human Rights Watch urges UN Members to back Vanuatu Climate resolution despite U.S Opposition
4. SOL — Solomon Islands PM welcomes newly sworn-in Ministers, Two more Ministers leave GNUT
5. NEW|CALE — French Pacific voters elect their town leaders in municipal elections
6. FIJI — National Leaders strengthen national dialogue on waste management
7. B/VILLE — ABG to commence major community engagement programme with Panguna communities
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Operation Rai Balang delivers strong start to 2026 Pacific fisheries surveillance
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Government urges calm, says fuel supply sufficient despite Middle East tensions
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Energy markets face uncertain environment: oil producer
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — What Pacific gender policy misses when it excludes boys and men
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific Partners convene to strengthen collective action on climate security
PAC – CLIMATE SECUURITY DIALGOUE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tues 17 Mar 2026
Forum DSG Solofa warns climate change is Pacific’s ‘single greatest threat’
BRISBANE, 17 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific leaders continue to view climate change as the region’s most serious security challenge, Desna Solofa, Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, said at the Regional Climate Security Dialogue in Brisbane on Monday.
“Pacific Leaders have been clear for many years that climate change is the single greatest threat to their livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific.”
Opening the Regional Dialogue on Climate Security in the Pacific in Australia, DSG Solofa said Pacific leaders established the region’s approach to climate security through the Boe Declaration on Regional Security adopted in 2018.
“The Boe Declaration recognised that security in the Pacific must be understood comprehensively, encompassing human security, environmental security and the resilience of our communities and ecosystems.”
She said the declaration was followed by the Boe Declaration Action Plan endorsed in 2019 to guide implementation across the region.
Solofa said the region has since strengthened its response to climate-related security risks.
“This includes the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood, reflecting the region’s determination to safeguard sovereignty, identity and rights in the face of existential climate threats.”
She also cited the development of national security policies recognising climate change as a national security risk, the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility, and the Pacific Regional Guide on Climate Security Assessment.
Solofa also highlighted the Kainaki II Declaration, adopted by Forum leaders in 2019.
“The Kainaki II Declaration, a landmark commitment by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2019, declaring a climate crisis and demanding urgent global action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. It is the strongest climate statement by the Forum, calling for increased emissions cuts and climate finance.”
Despite regional action, Solofa said the climate threat has intensified.
“While our understanding and response has deepened, the threat that our Leaders collectively identified in 2018 has not diminished. In fact, it is now more acute than ever.”
She warned that global emissions continue to rise and the world is not on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.
“For the Pacific, climate change is not only an environmental issue. It is a defining peace and security challenge for our region.”
Solofa said climate change affects coastal communities, food systems, water resources and national development.
She also stressed that climate impacts affect communities differently.
“These impacts are not experienced equally – women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalised groups often face heightened risks.”
“Ensuring Gender Equality and Social Inclusion are central to our climate security dialogue, strengthens resilience and promotes peace across all communities.”
Solofa said the region’s approach to peace and security is reflected in the Blue Pacific as an Ocean of Peace Declaration.
“The Blue Pacific as an Ocean of Peace Declaration endorsed by Forum Leaders last year reflects a distinctly Pacific understanding of peace and security.”
“It is one that emphasises cooperation over competition, prevention over reaction and collective stewardship of our shared ocean and environment.”
Addressing climate security is critical to sustaining peace in the region, said Solofa.
“In this context, addressing climate security is not only about managing risks. It is about protecting the conditions that allow peace, stability and prosperity to endure across the Blue Pacific.”
“Climate, peace and security must therefore be understood as a core pillar of sustaining our Ocean of Peace.”
Solofa said upcoming global climate negotiations will be an opportunity for Pacific countries to strengthen their advocacy.
Later this year the international community will gather for pre-COP31, which will be hosted in Fiji, supported by under the COP31 partnership framework.”
“For the Pacific, COP31 represents an important opportunity to continue elevating the region’s voice on issues that are central to our future.
These priorities include protecting the 1.5°C temperature limit, increasing climate finance, addressing loss and damage, and supporting communities threatened by sea level rise.
“The work undertaken through this Dialogue will help strengthen the regional evidence base on the peace and security implications of climate change and will support Pacific leadership in these global discussions.”
Solofa said Forum members are currently developing a Regional Peace and Security Action Plan under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
“One of the proposed strategic focus areas in the consultation draft is Climate, Peace and Security, and this dialogue provides an opportunity to draw on the experience of Forum Members and partners to help shape how this priority is reflected in the Action Plan.”
She encouraged participants to engage actively in the discussions. That is the task before us.”
“Over the coming days, I encourage participants to engage openly in this discussion. To share lessons from national experiences. To explore where the gaps remain, and to identify practical ways that the region can continue strengthening its approach to anticipating and responding to the peace and security implications of climate change.”
Solofa said regional cooperation will remain critical.
“By working together, we can continue advancing a Pacific-led approach that protects our communities, strengthens resilience, and supports the vision of a peaceful and secure Blue Pacific Continent.”
She thanked Australia for hosting the meeting in Brisbane and acknowledged support from the United Kingdom…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: AFP PACNEWS 1: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Samoan leader calls out great power ‘bullying’ as hosts NZ prime minister
APIA, 17 MARCH 2026 (AFP) — Samoa’s prime minister condemned major powers “bullying” on Monday, a thinly-veiled swipe at the United States and China as he hosted New Zealand’s leader for a rare state visit to the Pacific nation.
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon’s trip is the first to Samoa by a leader since La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt took office last year.
Luxon has framed his trip as part of a push to deepen economic and security ties in the Pacific.
Both the United States and China have been vying for influence in the strategic region, with both nations seeking to secure lucrative deals for resources and minerals that can be mined from the sea floor.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting which included Luxon, Schmidt said “you see the change nowadays in the world, big country’s bullying””.
“Start to change things dynamically, tariffs, pushing things, petroleum, taking over, all of that,” he said.
“Samoa’s focus is to ensure we look after ourselves, by ourselves, and controlling ourselves.”
Luxon reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to Samoa and stated the two countries were “not friends, we are family”.
At a lavish ceremony in the capital of Apia, Luxon was granted a chiefly title of Tuisinavemaulumoto’otua.
Samoa has been pushing for free movement of its people to New Zealand.
Luxon in turn has said New Zealand would further review immigration settings for its Pacific partner…. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Human Rights Watch urges UN Members to back Vanuatu Climate resolution despite U.S Opposition
NEW YORK, 17 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS) —- Governments should support a draft United Nations resolution led by Vanuatu that calls for stronger action on climate change following a landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice, according to Human Rights Watch.
The rights group said the world’s highest court has already made clear that governments have legal duties to address climate change.
“The world’s highest court has spoken tackling climate change is not a choice: it’s a legal obligation.”
Human Rights Watch said the responsibility now lies with the United Nations General Assembly and its 193 member states to act.
“Now it’s up to the United Nations General Assembly to speak up and urge its 193 member countries to take action.”
The statement said millions of people worldwide are already suffering the impacts of climate change.
“Millions of people around the world have already lost their homes, livelihoods, and lives, due to climate change. It is vital states take action.”
In July 2025, the International Court of Justice issued a unanimous advisory opinion outlining states’ legal obligations under international law to address climate change.
The court ruled that governments must protect the climate system, prevent cross-border environmental harm, and regulate activities driving greenhouse gas emissions. It also said failure to act on climate change can violate human rights including the rights to life, health, food, water, housing and culture.
Human Rights Watch said its research has shown that fossil fuel production harms communities around the world, particularly those living near extraction and energy infrastructure.
The group said the court’s advisory opinion confirms that governments already have legal duties to address those harms.
Vanuatu, working with a cross-regional group of countries, has circulated a draft resolution at the United Nations General Assembly aimed at turning the court’s findings into action.
The draft resolution calls on countries to strengthen national climate plans, phase out fossil fuels, and better protect communities displaced by climate change. It also proposes mechanisms to document and track climate-related losses faced by vulnerable communities.
The statement said the General Assembly has previously translated advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice into resolutions urging governments to act.
However, the United States, backed by some oil-producing states in the Gulf, has called on Vanuatu to withdraw the resolution.
But the Pacific island country, which faces threats from rising sea levels, has refused.
Human Rights Watch said Vanuatu and its partners have worked to address concerns raised by different countries, including from the European Union which has argued for a narrower interpretation of the court’s advisory opinion.
Human Rights Watch and partner organisations are now urging governments to support the resolution.
“It’s imperative they resist efforts to water down its core elements, especially those protecting human rights, international law, and advancing international cooperation on climate change, said Human Rights Watch…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS: SOL GOVT/SOLOMON STAR PACNEWS 1: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Solomon Islands PM welcomes newly sworn-in Ministers, two more Ministers leave GNUT
HONIARA, 17 MARCH 2026 (SOL GOVT/SOLOMON STAR) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has welcomed Mary Daniella Zae Garu, Member of Parliament for West Guadalcanal, and Freda Tuki Soriocomua, Member of Parliament for Temotu Vatud, who were officially sworn in Monday by the Governor-General.
Mary Garu was sworn in as the Minister for Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, succeeding Stephen Kumi.
Freda Tuki Soriocomua was sworn in as the Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, succeeding Clezy Rore.
Prime Minister Manele congratulated both Ministers on their appointments, noting that their presence ensures the Cabinet remains functional and focused on its objectives.
“These appointments are a vital step in ensuring we remain on track to complete the work of the 12th Parliament. I have every confidence in the Ministers’ commitment to seeing through our remaining legislative priorities and delivering on the Government’s 2026 national goals for the people of Solomon Islands,” the Prime Minister said.
Further ministerial swearing-in ceremonies are expected to take place over the coming days as the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) continues the process of filling ministerial portfolios.
Meanwhile, two Cabinet Ministers have reportedly left the government following the resignation of ten ministers on Sunday night.
They are Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel and Minister of Infrastructure Development (MID) Ricky Fuo’o.
Majority of the Members of Parliament (MP) are part of the Peoples First Party (PFP).
The Party stated it decided to move out due to growing mistrust amongst GNUT coalition which had resulted in the mass walkout.
The Party said, there are issues to be resolved which they want to resolve.
And the best option is to leave the coalition.
The Governor-General on Monday confirmed the resignations of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation and Communications Fredrick Kologeto; Minister for Health and Medical Services Paul Bosawai; Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs Clezy Rore; Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Harry Kuma; Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Derick Manuari; Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Wayne Ghemu; Minister for Public Service Francis Sade; Minister for Rural Development Daniel Waneoroa; Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace Stephen Kumi; and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Franklyn Wasi.
Backbenchers who have reportedly resigned are; Chachabule Rebi Amoi, Polycarp Paea, John Tuhaika Jnr, Oliver Salopuka, Morris Toiraena, Lazarus Alfred Rimah and James Bonunga
Its understood, PFP, the Opposition and Independent Group are in discussion of a likely coalition with conditions attached to a new formation.
GNUT was formed in May 2024 following the 12th general election…. PACNEWS
NEW|CALE – ELECTION: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Tue 17 Mar 2026
French Pacific voters elect their town leaders in municipal elections
NOUMEA/PAPE’ETE, 17 MARCH 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — French Pacific territories went to the polls over the weekend as part of French nationwide municipal elections, designed to elect members of city councils.
There were a few surprises in both in New Caledonia and French Polynesia in this first round of polls, and many townships will have to go back to the polling stations for the second round on Sunday 22 March.
The most contested municipal councils include the capitals of Nouméa in New Caledonia and Papeete in French Polynesia.
In both territories, votes have been traditionally divided between the pro-France and pro-independence party lines.
In New Caledonia, there are 33 registered municipal councils.
But until now, like in mainland France, the municipal elections seemed to be exempt from national themes, as the Lord Mayor is widely regarded as someone tasked to work for proximity issues, more bread and butter, cost of living and security.
However, this year, the municipal elections seem to have been largely influenced by such topics as New Caledonia’s political future, and ongoing negotiations to have a new status voted in the French parliament, along the lines of so-called Bougival talks initiated in July 2025, followed by further talks held in Paris in January 2026.
But one of the main components of the pro-independence movement, dominated by the Union Calédonienne (UC) and the FLNKS movement, has openly opposed and rejected the agreement projects, which aims at making New Caledonia a “State” with its associated “nationality”.
Due to the vote dispersion, Lagarde (the incumbent Mayor during the two previous mandates) narrowly failed to secure the necessary fifty percent of the votes at the first round (49.8 percent) by a paper-thin margin of 8 votes.
As a second round of votes will be required due to the absence of outright majorities, the vote is also widely expected to serve as an indicator of the status of political forces at play in New Caledonia since deadly riots broke out in New Caledonia in May 2024.
The municipal elections come as another crucial vote, to elect members of the three provincial assemblies (North, South and the Loyalty Islands group) is looming.
The provincial elections are crucial in the sense that the provincial assembly’s members will proportionally determine the makeup of New Caledonia’s Congress and, in turn, its government and its President.
Depending on the uncertain outcome of the Bougival process, the provincial poll could be held any time between June and December 2026.
In several municipalities, the municipal polls yielded sometimes unexpected results.
In the small and rural east-coastal town of Poindimié, long-ime pro-independence leader Paul Néaoutyine (Lord Mayor of Poindimié since 1989) did not secure enough votes (more than fifty percent) required to pass the fist round.
In several municipalities required to hold a second round, heavy talks are underway behind the scenes in order to form alliances.
In the small nickel mining ciy of Kouaoua, New Caledonia government president and pro-France Alcide Ponga was beaten at the first round by a UC-FLNKS list.
Ahead of the Sunday vote, the French High Commission in New Caledonia, saying that New Caledonia was undergoing a “tense economic ans social situation”, has put in place a ban of the sale of alcohol and arms “to prevent any individual or collective behaviours” likely to upset public tranquillity”.
In French Polynesia, the capital Papeete will also see a second round of votes on Sunday 22 March 2026.
But in some key cities surrounding Papeete, some key figures have retained their mandate by securing over fifty percent of the vote in the first round.
This includes the town of Faa’a, where 81-year-old charismatic pro-independence Tavini Huira’atira leader Oscar Temaru secured 58.2 percent of the votes, giving him the key to an eighth mandate.
But in the city of Paea, Temaru’s right-hand and French Polynesia’s Territorial assembly Speaker, Antony Géros will not even be allowed to keep running for the second round with only 39.1 percent.
His direct contender, autonomist Tepuaraurii Teriitahi, secured an outright 52 percent of the votes and is officially declared the new Lady Mayor
Still near Papeete, in Pirae, former pro-France President and pro-France (autonomist, in the local jargon) Tapura Huira’atira party leader Edouard Fritch also secured an outright victory…. PACNEWS
FIJI – WASTE MANAGEMENT: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 17 Mar 2026
National Leaders strengthen national dialogue on waste management
SUVA, 17 MARCH 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — “If Fiji is serious about addressing its waste management challenges, then this knowledge must inform national decision-making. Listening to grassroots experience is not simply an act of consultation—it is essential to designing policies that are practical, inclusive, and sustainable.”
These were the comments made by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka while officiating at the VAKA (Voices, Alliances, Knowledge, and Action) Forum held in Suva Monday.
The forum was initiated to strengthen national leadership on waste management and environmental stewardship as Fiji advances efforts to address growing waste and pollution challenges. The forum brought together policymakers, community leaders, and grassroots recyclers, creating an important platform to exchange knowledge and shape a coordinated national response to waste management issues affecting communities across the country.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka emphasised the importance of connecting national policy discussions with the real experiences of communities and recyclers who manage waste at the grassroots level.
“As policymakers, legislators, and administrators, we are responsible for shaping national strategies and regulatory frameworks. On the other side are communities and grassroots recyclers who confront the realities of waste management every day,” Prime Minister Rabuka said.
“These individuals possess practical knowledge that cannot always be captured through reports or statistics. Their experiences reveal how waste moves through our communities, how behaviors change, and what solutions work on the ground.”
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening Fiji’s waste management systems as part of the country’s broader development agenda, noting that waste management is closely linked to environmental protection, public health, and economic resilience.
“Waste management is not only an environmental issue—it is also a matter of public health, economic opportunity, and national resilience,” he said.
He noted that effective waste management helps protect water systems, safeguard communities, and support key sectors such as tourism and agriculture, while also creating opportunities for innovation and employment through recycling and circular economy initiatives.
Government is currently advancing work towards a strengthened Integrated Waste Management Strategy, which will guide national efforts in waste reduction, recycling, and responsible disposal while ensuring coordination across national and municipal systems.
Alongside this work, amendments to the Litter Act have been developed by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and are currently undergoing legal vetting before being tabled in Parliament. The reforms aim to strengthen enforcement and reinforce the principle that protecting Fiji’s environment is a shared national responsibility.
Government is also progressing Container Deposit Regulations, which will introduce a system where beverage containers carry a refundable deposit that can be reclaimed when returned through designated collection points.
Prime Minister Rabuka said initiatives such as the Return and Earn programme have already demonstrated that assigning value to recyclable materials encourages communities to participate in recycling.
“The Container Deposit framework will build upon this experience by creating a national system that encourages accountability across the entire value chain—from producers and distributors to retailers and consumers,” he said.
Fiji’s efforts to strengthen waste management and environmental protection are also aligned with the country’s international commitments under global environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Basel Convention.
At the regional level, these efforts support the vision outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which calls for stronger cooperation among Pacific Island countries to safeguard the region’s ocean and promote sustainable development.
Rabuka also highlighted that Fiji’s environmental stewardship is closely linked to Government’s broader foreign policy vision under the Ocean of Peace concept, which promotes the Pacific Ocean as a domain of peace, cooperation and shared prosperity.
“Responsible waste management and recycling contribute directly to the vision of an Ocean of Peace—an ocean that is clean, healthy and sustainably managed for the benefit of present and future generations,” he said.
He emphasised that addressing waste management challenges requires collaboration across all sectors of society, including government, businesses, communities, and civil society organisations.
By strengthening partnerships between government, the private sector and community organisations, Fiji can develop a waste management model that reflects the country’s island context while contributing to regional leadership within the Pacific.
Founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation, Amitesh Deo, welcomed the engagement of Members of Parliament at the forum, noting that stronger collaboration between policymakers and grassroots recyclers is critical to addressing Fiji’s waste challenges.
Deo said the VAKA Forum provides an important opportunity for decision-makers to hear directly from those working on the frontline of waste management, particularly collection workers and community recyclers.
He emphasised that recognising the role of grassroots recyclers and supporting community-led recycling initiatives will be key to strengthening Fiji’s waste management systems and advancing circular economy practices…. PACNEWS
Deo also acknowledged the Government’s ongoing work to strengthen national waste policies and said partnerships between government, civil society, and the private sector would be essential in building a more sustainable and inclusive recycling ecosystem in Fiji…. PACNEWS
B/VILLE – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: ABG GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 17 Mar 2026
ABG to commence major community engagement programme with Panguna communities
BUKA, 17 MARCH 2026 (ABG GOVT) — The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) will begin a major community engagement programme with communities in Panguna this week.
ABG Chief Secretary, Kearnneth Nanei, announced this government initiative, and explained that the programme will begin with a frontline engagement team made up of government officers and veterans from Central Bougainville.
This team will visit communities in Panguna, including mine-affected communities in the upper and lower tailings areas. This first phase of community visits will run from 16 March to 27 March.
“The purpose of the frontline visit is to have open dialogues with communities and listen directly to their concerns about the Panguna EL01 redevelopment process. Community views, recurring concerns, and questions raised during these engagements will be documented and reported to the Panguna Technical Working Group under the Bougainville Administration,” he said.
He explained that these issues will then be addressed during a larger, integrated ABG engagement with Panguna communities scheduled for the first week of April, which will be led by the ABG President and Minister responsible for Mining, together with senior government leaders and the Bougainville Administration.
The ABG is encouraging landowners, community leaders, women, youth, and all affected communities to actively participate in these engagements.
“This process is about listening to our people and ensuring that landowners and communities are part of the journey as we carefully move forward with Panguna,” Nanei said.
He emphasised that the redevelopment of Panguna will proceed in accordance with ABG laws and regulations, and that the government remains fully committed to open dialogue, transparency, and continued consultation with landowners and key stakeholders.
“Landowners will be partners with the proposal for Panguna Mine re-development,” he said.
It is also important for the public to understand that for more than twenty years, discussions about Panguna largely occurred outside of the actual mining project life cycle. However, in 2024 the Toroama Government made the decision to issue Exploration Licence 01 (EL01) to Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), placing Bougainville formally within the exploration phase of the mining life cycle.
Nanei emphasised that all developments at this current stage is associated with exploration phase, and not mine development, adding that throughout all these stages, landowner groups in Panguna will be partners to the process as they happen.
As this technical phase progresses, engagement with Panguna landowner stakeholders will continue and become more structured.
Discussions on matters such as benefit sharing and other development issues will take place through formal Mining Forum processes as required under Bougainville law.
In the meantime, Nanei said teams from the ABG Department of Mining, together with other key government departments, will be deployed to Arawa and Panguna to ensure a stronger and consistent government presence on the ground to manage Panguna-related issues.
Communities are encouraged to attend the scheduled engagement meetings in their areas, raise their concerns, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue with government…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Operation Rai Balang delivers strong start to 2026 Pacific fisheries surveillance
HONIARA, 17 MARCH 2026 (FFA) — The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and its members have begun 2026 regional fisheries surveillance efforts with strong, coordinated action, following the successful conclusion of Operation Rai Balang 2026 (OPRB26).
From 26 February – 13 March 2026, OPRB26 brought together FFA Members and regional partners in coordinated patrols and aerial surveillance covering approximately 13.3 million square kilometres of ocean across the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
The scope of the operation also covered adjacent high seas in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Australia and New Zealand also supported OPRB26 through the Pacific Quadrilateral (PQUAD) partners, alongside France and the United States, contributing to patrol vessels, aircraft and surveillance support.
Preliminary results from the operation recorded 74 vessel inspections conducted both at sea and in port, along with 82 vessel sightings across the operational area.
Surveillance efforts also identified eight high risk vessels leading to seven vessels of interest flagged for Members’ further investigations and reporting to Flag States.
Three fishing vessels were apprehended for suspected violations requiring further investigation.
Operations such as Rai Balang form part of FFA’s ongoing regional monitoring, control and surveillance program, enabling Members to work together to verify compliance of fishing vessels. A strong emphasis of this operation was towards reporting requirements on effort and catches that are licensed to operate in the Pacific waters.
The operation involved coordinated surface patrols, aerial surveillance, intelligence analysis and the support of 22 seconded participants based at the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) at the FFA Headquarters in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The seconded participants include Members, partners and the FFA Secretariat who provided support to RFSC coordination and data analysis.
Participating assets included patrol vessels and port inspectors from FFA Members as well as maritime surveillance aircraft from Australian Defence Force and the FFA Aerial Surveillance Aircraft (ASP) operating under regional partnerships.
The operation combined national enforcement activities with regional intelligence support through platforms such as the FFA Regional Surveillance Picture (RSP), the Regional Information Management Facility (RIMF) and Starboard Maritime Intelligence, enabling Members to target high-risk vessels and coordinate surveillance assets more effectively.
FFA Interim Deputy Director-General and Director of Fisheries Operations, Allan Rahari, congratulated OPRB26’s coordinating team based at the FFA RFSC in Honiara for the successful completion of the operation.
“Operation Rai Balang is part of FFA’s ongoing work to maintain compliance across the Pacific tuna fishery and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region,” Rahari reminded.
“By conducting vessel inspections, analysing vessel activity and coordinating surveillance across our members’ waters, we help ensure that fishing vessels operate within national laws set by our members and abide by international fisheries rules. These efforts send a clear message that the Pacific region is actively monitoring its fisheries resources.
“During this operation we combined aerial patrols, vessel boardings, and advanced satellite and remote sensing tools to monitor fishing activity and areas of interest. This coordinated approach helps us identify high-risk vessels earlier and support timely enforcement actions by our members.”
These coordinated surveillance efforts also align with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, reinforcing the region’s commitment to working together to protect ocean resources and ensure they continue to deliver benefits for Pacific people.
Operation Rai Balang also involved close collaboration with regional and international partners, including technology providers and organisations supporting maritime domain awareness and fisheries monitoring.
The outcomes of the operation will now feed into follow-up investigations and compliance processes under regional and national fisheries management frameworks…. PACNEWS
FIJI – IRAN CRISIS: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Fiji Government urges calm, says fuel supply sufficient despite Middle East tensions
SUVA, 17 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Fiji Government says the country has sufficient fuel supplies and there is no need for panic buying despite concerns linked to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement, the Government said fuel stocks in the country remain adequate to meet national demand.
“Fuel supply in the country is sufficient to meet the energy needs for the next few months and there is no need to indulge in ‘panic buying’ at the service station.”
Authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation arising from the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
“The Government is closely monitoring the developments emanating from the U.S-Israel conflict with Iran, and meeting with local suppliers who have already secured fuel supply.”
The Government also confirmed that Cabinet will meet to discuss longer-term measures should the conflict continue.
“Furthermore, Cabinet will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) to firm-up on the plan of action for the long term, if there is no resolution to the conflict in the near future.”
Officials have also urged the public to rely only on verified information.
“The public is once again advised to only access information from verified sources and the Government has assured that it will provide regular updates as and when needed.”
Meanwhile, Fiji’s Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Alitia Bainivalu, reassured the public on social media that the country is not facing a fuel shortage.
“I understand the concern many people are feeling after reports of fuel shortages at some service stations today, but I want to reassure everyone that there is no need to panic.”
Bainivalu said Fiji does not depend on fuel shipments directly from the Middle East.
“Our fuel mainly comes through Malaysia, Singapore and Korea, where supplies continue to operate normally, and this is why fuel shipments to Fiji are still continuing.”
She said fuel companies have confirmed that national reserves remain stable.
“Fuel companies have confirmed that Fiji still has fuel stocks available for between 20 and 45 days depending on the fuel product, and more fuel shipments are already on the way.”
Bainivalu said temporary shortages at some service stations were caused by increased demand as motorists rushed to fill up.
“What we are seeing at some service stations is mainly pressure caused by increased demand when many people rush to buy fuel at the same time.”
“When this happens, some stations can temporarily run low even though fuel is still available nationally.”
The minister said the Government continues to monitor the global situation while contingency measures remain in place.
“Government continues to monitor global developments closely, including the situation around the country, while contingency measures under the Fuel and Power Emergency Act 1974 remain in place to protect essential services.”
She also urged the public to avoid hoarding fuel and remain calm.
“I encourage everyone to buy fuel as normal, avoid hoarding, and remain calm so supply can continue fairly for all Fijians,” said Bainivalu…. PACNEWS
AUST – IRAN CRISIS: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Energy markets face uncertain environment: oil producer
SYDNEY, 17 MARCH 2026 (AAP) — The nation’s biggest oil and gas producer says the U.S-Israeli war on Iran has created an uncertain environment that will have a wide-ranging impact on global energy markets.
The U.S-led conflict in the Middle East, now in its third week, has driven a sharp rise in oil prices to more than US$100 a barrel, from about US$71 before, which has in turn raised on-ground petrol prices for motorists and businesses.
“It’s yet another reminder that we are operating in a volatile and uncertain environment,” Woodside Energy acting chief executive Liz Westcott told investors on Monday.
“Today, more than ever, shareholders and stakeholders rely on companies like Woodside to do their jobs responsibly.”
Woodside posted a 24 percent slump in bottom-line net profit for calendar 2025 to US$2.7 billion (AUD$3.8 billion) after the impact of soft commodity prices outweighed record production and reduced unit costs.
Looking ahead, Westcott said global demand for energy was clearly increasing and Woodside was positioning itself to become an international LNG powerhouse.
“The volatile situation in the Middle East has shown that global energy markets can be swiftly and significantly impacted by geopolitical events,” she told the company’s annual sustainability briefing in Sydney.
“At the same time, recent policy and market developments suggest the pace and scale of the global energy transition is becoming less, not more, certain.”
The current conflict, which is also affecting LNG supply flows, has shown countries place high importance on energy affordability and reliability in the context of the energy transition.
At the same time, Woodside remains confident it can bounce off the decarbonisation goals of its customers to sell more LNG, although it acknowledges coal demand continues to grow in the Asia-Pacific region.
Westcott reiterated on Monday that Woodside was optimistic about demand for crude in calendar 2026, despite the shift away from fossil fuels.
Market Forces head of Australian campaigns Brett Morgan said increasing LNG supply to Asia was likely to undermine the clean energy transition by slowing the uptake of renewable energy.
“Woodside is living in a gas-fired fantasy by pushing a false ‘coal-to-gas switching’ narrative in Asia, despite zero evidence of this happening,” he said.
“Gas is forecast to play a small and declining role in the global clean energy transition as the world seeks to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, yet Woodside continues to greenwash its massive fossil fuel expansion plans.”
In 2025, Woodside met its internal target for a 15 percent reduction in emissions…. PACNEWS
What Pacific gender policy misses when it excludes boys and men
Efforts to address gender-based violence in the Pacific overlook how boys are shaped by the very norms driving harm
By Priyam Singh-Maharaj
SYDEY,17 MARCH 2026 (THE INTERPRETER) — Across the Pacific, concerns about gender-based violence and gender inequality have become a defining development challenge – drawning sustained attention from regional governments and international partners. Australia, New Zealand, and multilateral agencies have invested heavily in prevention and response initiatives. Most recently the Australian government committed an additional $25 million (US$17.69 million) over five years to strengthen frontline services across the region. These efforts reflect a broader global recognition that gender-based violence undermines social stability, economic participation, and long‑term development outcomes.
Yet despite this momentum, current approaches rarely consider how boys and men are socialised into the very norms that fuel these problems, leaving a critical gap in the region’s gender policy architecture.
Boys are an overlooked part of the gender story in the Pacific, yet their experiences help explain how gender norms are formed and how they might change. The expectations of masculinity placed on boys from an early age influence how they manage conflict, express vulnerability and understand responsibility as adults. Without addressing this foundation, efforts to reduce violence and strengthen community wellbeing risk treating symptoms rather than the conditions that allow them to persist.
Many of the boys I worked with in Fijian schools recounted exposure to domestic violence. They spoke of complicated family dynamics, early alcohol use and spending long hours out at night to avoid going home. In schools, bullying often takes the form of gender policing, where boys are labelled “soft” and told to “suck it up and keep moving” because expressing emotion is seen as feminine and “no one cares” about their feelings. Collectively, these accounts illustrate how gender norms operate early in boys’ lives and how these norms limit the forms of vulnerability they feel able to express.
The near-exclusive work with women and girls has created a structural blind spot.
My earlier research work with Fijian fathers showed how these pressures continue across the life course. Fathers often wanted closer relationships with their children but felt unprepared to show affection, having inherited models of parenting built on silence, discipline and emotional distance. Their reflections revealed how the emotional restrictions placed on boys do not disappear with age. Instead, they impact men’s relationships, their sense of responsibility, and their ability to support the next generation.
These findings matter for reasons that go far beyond school dynamics or household relationships. Pacific gender policy frameworks, including those guiding major development partners, have rightly focused on the urgent challenges facing women and girls. These efforts are essential and must continue. However, the near-exclusive work with women and girls has created a structural blind spot. Masculine norms – and the everyday cultures that shape the behaviour of boys and men – receive far less attention.
Efforts to include men and boys in gender programming often position them as allies. When they are discussed, it is often through the narrow lens of violence prevention, with terms such as toxic masculinity used as catchphrases. These framings rarely lead to meaningful change because they rely on concepts developed in Western contexts rather than on locally grounded, cultural understandings of how boys and men come to understand, negotiate, and embody masculinity in Pacific communities. Development agencies need to support Pacific‑led approaches grounded in the cultural, religious and moral frameworks that shape their daily lives.
In Fiji, there have been public debates about establishing a men’s department to address issues such as drug abuse and domestic violence. Feminist organisations opposed the proposal, but many in the wider public backed the idea of providing some form of support for men. This tension reflects a broader regional challenge. Communities recognise that boys and men need support, yet there is limited research to guide what that support should look like. Without evidence drawn from boys’ and men’s own experiences, gender programming risks misdiagnosis and overlooking the social realities that inform behaviour. The norms that harm women and girls are often the same norms that restrict boys’ emotional expression, frame their ideas of masculinity and gender roles, influence men’s parenting practices, and ultimately affect the wellbeing of families.
Working with boys and men is not a diversion from gender equality. It is essential for building the kinds of relationships and communities needed for long-term social and development outcomes. Expanding research and development work in this area is crucial, not only to support boys and men themselves but to build a fuller and more honest foundation for gender equality in the region. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive. Women and girls continue to face systemic inequality and gender-based violence, and men and boys need targeted support, not because they are oppressed, but because they are socialised into a model of masculinity that is harming them and others…. PACNEWS
Pacific Partners convene to strengthen collective action on climate security
BRISBANE, 17 MARCH 2026 (PIFS) — Senior officials from Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member countries and regional stakeholders have convened this week in Brisbane, Australia for the Regional Dialogue on Climate Security in the Pacific, a platform to strengthen collective understanding of the security implications of climate change in the Pacific and to explore practical responses within the region’s evolving peace and security architecture.
The three-day gathering brings together sixty-five participants from Forum Member Governments, the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) agencies, academia and international partners.
The Dialogue draws on expertise from climate science, adaptation and climate finance, alongside practitioners working in peacebuilding, governance and regional security. Bringing these perspectives together helps deepen understanding of how climate impacts interact with environmental systems, economic stability, governance structures and social cohesion across the Pacific.
“Our member countries are increasingly noticing stresses and tensions occurring in the way our communities attempt to deal with the impacts of climate change. These impacts are not only exacerbating existing social and political challenges but are also having a direct impact on security. We are gathering here to better understand how climate change and security intersect and to map a way forward to respond to their increasingly linked challenges,” said Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“The Pacific has consistently recognised climate change as the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of our people. Climate change does not operate in isolated sectors; its impacts cut across environmental systems, economic systems, governance structures and social relationships. Understanding the peace and security implications of climate change therefore requires bridging these fields of knowledge and practice,” said Desna Solofa, Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The Dialogue builds on regional commitments under the Boe Declaration on Regional Security, endorsed by Forum Leaders in 2018, which expanded the region’s concept of security and placed human security at its centre. It also reflects the vision of the Ocean of Peace Declaration endorsed in 2025, which emphasises cooperation, prevention and the collective stewardship of the Pacific Ocean and environment.
Forum Members are currently advancing the development of a Regional Peace and Security Action Plan that will bring together the Boe Declaration and the Ocean of Peace Declaration within the framework of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Through cross-sectoral engagement, participants will exchange emerging practices, strengthen regional coordination and identify opportunities for partnerships and financing to address climate-related security risks across the Blue Pacific. Outcomes from the Dialogue are expected to identify emerging regional priorities on climate security to help inform the draft Regional Peace and Security Action Plan.
The Dialogue is coordinated through collaboration between the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, with support from the United Kingdom…. PACNEWS