In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — WIM Executive Committee on Loss and Damage meets in Pacific for first time
2. PACIFIC — CNMI eyes stronger role in Pacific Islands Forum
3. VAN — 19 people rescued as search continues for passengers after Vanuatu ferry wreck
4. PACIFIC — Turn climate threats into opportunities, Pacific Meteorological Council urged
5. FIJI — Plans for gradual rollout, Fiji weather service new forecasting system
6. TAIWAN — Taiwan and Tuvalu eye expanded cooperation
7. PACIFIC — Dr Upolu warns of parliamentary instability as Samoa joins Pacific assembly
8. PALAU — Australia donates 24 vehicles to boost Palau public safety
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji commits to greater transparency in fisheries sector
10. PACNEWS BIZ — El Nino may affect PNG growth: ANZ
11. PACNEWS BIZ — SPREP secures €880,000 for second phase of Kiwa Initiative
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific parties to CITES gather in Samoa for shark management workshop
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Pacific Meteorological Council’s coordination journey
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Taveuni communities recognised for leading climate resilience and environmental restoration
PAC – LOSS& DAMAGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sept 2026
WIM Executive Committee on Loss and Damage meets in Pacific for first time
By Pita Ligaiula
MAJURO, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—- The first Pacific meeting of the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change impacts is being held in Majuro, giving global climate officials a first-hand look at the realities faced by communities on the frontline of climate change.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is hosting the WIM Executive Committee meeting from 14–18 September 2026, bringing the global climate body to the Pacific for the first time.
The convening of the WIM ExCom in the Marshall Islands was made possible through the COP31 Australia-Pacific Partnership, providing a fitting backdrop to discussions on loss and damage.
RMI Minister-in-Assistance to the President and Environment, Jess Gasper, said the meeting was important because WIM ExCom members could experience the impacts of climate change directly rather than relying on reports.
“It is very important for the WIM ExCom community to come here. Instead of reading things on paper, they get to actually see it and live reality.
“They see the ocean. We’re a couple of metres away from the ocean. They see the narrow strip of these roadways,” Gasper said.
Gasper said the visit would also allow Committee members to hear directly from communities dealing with the loss of homes and land.
“They see the people who are losing, like somebody like me, the community of Bikini, and get to talk with us about loss of homes, loss of land,” he said.
“We want them to have that experience while they’re here in the Marshall Islands,” he said.
The meeting included Pacific youth representatives who shared their lived experiences of climate change and its impacts with members of the Committee.
The presence of the WIM ExCom in Majuro provides an opportunity for Pacific experiences, concerns and priorities on loss and damage to be brought directly into global discussions.
For Pacific Island countries, the impacts of climate change include rising seas, threats to land and homes, displacement and growing risks to communities and livelihoods.
The Marshall Islands has repeatedly highlighted the need for global climate action to reflect the realities faced by communities living on the frontline of climate change.
The week-long meeting in Majuro is providing the WIM ExCom with direct exposure to those realities as it considers the global response to loss and damage associated with climate change…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: MARIANAS PRESS PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sep 2026
CNMI eyes stronger role in Pacific Islands Forum
SAIPAN, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (MARIANAS PRESS) —- The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is seeking to maintain its observer status in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), with the possibility of pursuing associate membership as it looks to strengthen its voice in the region.
Clement “CJ” Bermudes Jr, special adviser to the governor for economic issues, said CNMI’s participation at the recent PIF Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau, provided an opportunity to raise the Commonwealth’s concerns with Pacific leaders despite its current observer status.
“We’re certainly committed to maintaining our observer status and potentially even elevating to associate member status as we continue to participate in forums like the PIF,” Bermudes told Marianas Press.
The CNMI currently holds observer status in the PIF, while Guam and American Samoa are associate members.
Bermudes said the Commonwealth also had an opportunity to participate in regional discussions through the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL), held at the start of the PIF Leaders Meeting.
Unlike its status in the PIF, the CNMI is a full member of PICL, which is hosted by the East-West Centre
He said participation in both regional forums was important as Pacific island jurisdictions seek to ensure their interests are represented amid growing geopolitical competition in the region.
The push for a stronger role comes as Pacific leaders continue to emphasise regional unity and greater participation in regional decision-making…..PACNEWS
VAN – FERRY DISASTER: PMN PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sep 2026
19 people rescued as search continues for passengers after Vanuatu ferry wreck
PORT VILA, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PMN)—Nineteen people have been rescued after a passenger vessel went missing off Vanuatu as search teams continue looking for others feared to be missing at sea.
The rescue operation is being coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Nouméa, which said in a press release on Monday that 19 people had been rescued with search operations continuing off Espiritu Santo.
The MV Matui, a vessel about 15 metres long, is believed to have left Espiritu Santo for Ambae on Friday morning but never reached its destination. Thirty people are reportedly missing.
Vanuatu authorities alerted MRCC Nouméa on Saturday night after the vessel had been missing for more than 34 hours.
Seven people had been rescued by local rescue teams by Saturday evening. A further 12 people were rescued on Sunday morning.
A Vanuatu Police spokesperson told national broadcaster VBCTC that the MV Matui sank in rough seas on Friday while travelling between Ambae and Santo.
The spokesperson said one survivor managed to reach shore on Santo where a diver helped take him to a local community for assistance.
In an earlier statement, Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat’s office said 15 people had been accounted for alive and one person had died, with more than 30 still missing.
“This loss appears to be the result of strong winds and marine warnings not being heeded, and possibly of negligence including overloading of the vessel,” the statement said.
The government said an investigation would establish what happened. Search operations are continuing for others who may have been on board.
The vessel was believed to be carrying up to 33 people, although authorities are still working to confirm the exact number of passengers.
The search is being carried out in difficult conditions, with south-easterly winds of about 20 knots and rough to very rough seas reported in the area.
The French Armed Forces in New Caledonia has deployed a Falcon 200 ‘Gardian’ aircraft from Nouméa/Tontouta to help locate survivors.
The aircraft began its search at first light on Sunday, working alongside vessels already operating in the area.
MRCC Nouméa has also used a drift model produced by Météo-France to estimate where people or wreckage may have moved in the sea.
Search areas have been set based on the vessel’s last known position and the weather and sea conditions.
A distress message is also being broadcast across the wider area through satellite systems.
The rescue operation follows a request for assistance from Vanuatu authorities, with MRCC Nouméa taking responsibility for coordinating the search.
It is working closely with the Vanuatu Maritime Safety Agency and local rescue teams.
Pacific weather leaders meeting in Tonga are calling for stronger, more sustainable early-warning systems so no community is left without life-saving weather information.
The meeting is also highlighting gaps in climate data and the need for Pacific countries to have the tools and funding to maintain warning systems over the long term.
For families in Vanuatu, the search remains focused on finding those who may still be missing and bringing them home safely.
“To the survivors, we pray for your strength and recovery. To the families of those missing and those we have lost, please know that the nation stands with you in this time of grief,” Napat’s office said.
The operation also highlights the importance of regional cooperation when emergencies happen across the Pacific where large stretches of open ocean can make search and rescue difficult.
The French authorities say the operation remains active as aircraft and vessels continue to search the waters around Espiritu Santo….PACNEWS
PAC – MET MEET: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Turn climate threats into opportunities, Pacific Meteorological Council urged
NUKU’ALOFA, 15 SEPTEMBER 206 (FIJI TIMES)—The Pacific Meteorological Council has been urged to turn the challenges facing the region’s weather and climate services into opportunities to strengthen warning systems, invest in people and ensure critical information reaches vulnerable communities.
Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) chair and Vanuatu Meteorological and Geohazards Division director Levu Antfalo made the remarks as he reflected on the council’s progress since taking over the chairmanship in 2024.
Antfalo said the region continued to face growing weather and climate-related threats, including recent tropical cyclones, volcanic activity and another tropical cyclone season approaching.
“These are the challenges and opportunities before us over,” he said.
He said the focus should be on strengthening meteorological services, sustaining observing and warning systems, investing in people, embracing innovation and ensuring warnings and climate information reached the “very last person and community” that needed them.
Antfalo said the PMC had grown into an important regional platform since its establishment in 2011, allowing national meteorological and hydrological services across the Pacific to work collectively, establish regional priorities and strengthen partnerships.
He said while progress had been made during his tenure, much work remained.
“We heard those reports, reflect on what has been achieved, identify the remaining gaps, and agree on the actions that we must take forward together.”
Antfalo also highlighted recent disasters affecting member states, including tropical cyclone impacts in the Solomon Islands and Federated States of Micronesia, as well as ongoing volcanic activity.
“These events remind us that the services we provide are about protecting lives, livelihoods, and the future security of our Pacific people.”
Antfalo was elected the seventh chair of the PMC in 2024.
The council elected Tonga Meteorological Service director Laitia Fifita as its new chair last week (PMC 8)…..PACNEWS
FIJI – MET SERVICE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Plans for gradual rollout, Fiji weather service new forecasting system
NUKU’ALOFA/NADI, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The Fiji Meteorological Service will not treat its new forecasting platform as business as usual when it is introduced, with the service planning a controlled transition before the system becomes part of its daily operations.
The platform will support how Fiji produces and delivers weather information, including public weather forecasts, marine and aviation information, severe weather warnings and tropical cyclone products.
Principal Scientific Officer for Hydrology Viliame Vereivalu said this during the second day of the Pacific Meteorological Council meeting earlier this week.
Vereivalu said the Fiji Meteorological Service had developed a four-stage pathway to ensure the new platform was properly prepared before it replaced existing systems.
“The first stage, Configure, will involve setting up the platform to reflect the service’s operational requirements, including its public weather, marine, aviation, severe weather and tropical cyclone workflows,” he said.
“IBL Visual Weather and the BoM Tropical Cyclone Module will also be configured to match approved product guides and operational procedures.”
He said the second stage, Validate, would check whether data inputs, calculations, product formats and dissemination outputs are working correctly.
Vereivalu said any material difference between the new system and existing products would need to be identified, documented and formally approved.
“The third stage, Test, will involve User Acceptance Testing under both normal and difficult conditions.
“The final stage, Transition, will see the new and existing systems operate in parallel.”
Vereivalu said this would allow remaining problems to be identified and resolved before the new platform is formally adopted.
The outdated applications would only be decommissioned once the new system is considered stable and fit for operational use.
He said the controlled approach was important because meteorological services supported critical decision-making during severe weather and tropical cyclone events, and the transition should not compromise operational continuity….PACNEWS
TAIWAN – DIPLOMACY: TAIWAN NEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Taiwan and Tuvalu eye expanded cooperation
TAIPEI, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TAIWAN NEWS) — Tuvalu Foreign Minister Paulson Panapa arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a five-day visit at the invitation of the Taiwanese government.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon for Panapa and his delegation on Monday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his remarks, Lin said he was happy to see Taiwan and Tuvalu continue to deepen cooperation across various fields.
He also highlighted several recent agreements between the two countries, including those on labor cooperation, double tax avoidance, and unmanned systems. This demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation and expanding mutually beneficial partnerships, he said.
Both countries are exploring new cooperation mechanisms under the principles of comprehensive diplomacy and the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project to enhance Tuvalu’s resilience and promote sustainable development, Lin said.
Lin added that in agriculture and fisheries, the two countries are advancing projects such as milkfish farming to improve Tuvalu’s food security and enhance knowledge sharing.
Panapa thanked Taiwan’s long-standing support for Tuvalu. He noted that many cooperation projects have been centred on improving livelihoods and promoting development. Facing increasingly severe challenges such as rising sea levels and intensifying extreme weather, Panapa said Tuvalu urgently needs to enhance its capacity for climate adaptation and sustainable development.
He expressed hope that the two countries will further deepen cooperation in these areas to achieve lasting shared prosperity.
The foreign ministry said it will continue to deepen bilateral ties and expand areas of cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. ….PACNEWS
PAC – PARLIAMENT: SAMOA OBSERVER PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Dr Upolu warns of parliamentary instability as Samoa joins Pacific assembly
PAPE’ETE, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SAMOA OBSERVER)—Dr Upolu Luma Vaai, a Samoan professor of theology and ethics and Vice-Chancellor of Pasifika Communities University, has warned that instability in Pacific parliaments is threatening peace and regional stability as Samoa joins the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly as a full member.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Auuapaau Aloitafua Mulipola is leading Samoa’s delegation at the inaugural General Assembly of the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (PIPA) in Papeete, French Polynesia.
According to the Parliament of Samoa, the country formally signed on as a full member during the meeting, giving Samoa a place in the regional grouping of Pacific legislatures.
Professor Upolu delivered the main keynote address under the theme, “A Pacific Voice in a Divided World: Parliamentary Diplomacy, Regional Unity and Global Peace.” According to the university, he told delegates that parliaments were “not just law-making institutions” but institutions carrying a “sacred trust.”
“I don’t have to remind you honourable members and distinguished delegates of the instabilities within our own parliaments that are increasingly posing risk to peace and security, to national and regional stability, and to leadership growth in the region,” he said.
Professor Upolu also questioned the reliance of Pacific countries on inherited Western parliamentary systems, including Westminster and French models.
He said these systems were underpinned by philosophies including competition and growth and argued Pacific countries should rethink how their parliamentary systems operate.
“Therefore we have to decolonise our own parliamentary models,” he said.
Professor Upolu also argued that spirituality, which he described as central to Pacific identity and well-being, had been sidelined in many imported political systems.
He said Pacific leadership needed both institutional and ethical integrity, adding: “From a ‘whole of life’ perspective, we need both.”
The PIPA meeting has brought together parliamentary delegations from across the Pacific to discuss climate change, women’s political participation, regional security and parliamentary cooperation.
Cabinet had earlier approved Auuapaau to lead Samoa’s delegation to the Papeete meeting from 07 – 11 September before the delegation travelled to the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13-18 September.
The Samoa delegation also includes MPs Aiolupotea Misa Tony Aiolupo and Tunumafono Claire Tai Tin, Deputy Clerk Maiava Olive Karene-Eneliko and parliamentary officials Fuimaono Alpha Apineru and Fusi Gauta-Mua…..PACNEWS
PALAU – DIPLOMACY: PALAU GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Australia donates 24 vehicles to boost Palau public safety
KOROR, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PALAU GOVT) —- Australia has donated 24 vehicles to Palau’s Ministry of Justice to strengthen the operational capacity of the Bureau of Public Safety (BPS).
The vehicles will improve the BPS’s mobility, emergency response, community policing and law-enforcement operations across Palau.
The fleet was used to support security operations during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror and will now be incorporated into the BPS operational fleet.
Australia and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are providing more than US$1.1 million in support to strengthen Palau’s safety, security and law-enforcement capabilities.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr said the support would strengthen the country’s ability to protect its communities.
“You cannot have prosperity without peace,” Whipps said, recognising the work of BPS officers in maintaining public safety.
He thanked the Australian Government, the Australian people, Australian Ambassador to Palau Lynda Sharpe and the AFP for their continued partnership and practical support.
“This is more than a donation of vehicles,” Whipps said.
“It is an investment in the safety of our people, the professionalism of our officers, and a safer, stronger, more secure Palau and Pacific.”
Whipps said Palau valued its partnership with Australia and the AFP.
“Kom kmal mesulang to the Government and people of Australia and the Australian Federal Police. We are stronger together,” he said….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – FISHERIES: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 15 Sep 2026
Fiji commits to greater transparency in fisheries sector
SUVA/ROME, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—- Fiji has become the first Pacific Island country to commit to implementing the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) Standard, a move the Government says will strengthen accountability, fisheries management and protection of the country’s marine resources.
Fiji Fisheries Minister Alitia Bainivalu signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FiTI Executive Director Sven Biermann in Rome, where she attended the 37th Session of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO COFI37).
Bainivalu said the agreement marks an important step towards full implementation of the FiTI Standard, which aims to make fisheries information more accessible, credible and easier for the public to understand.
“For our Government, having reliable and verified fisheries data will help us make better decisions,” Bainivalu said.
She said better information would strengthen Fiji’s ability to assess fish stocks, negotiate fairer fishing access agreements and tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
“Good information means we can better protect Fiji’s interests and our marine resources,” she said.
The Minister said greater transparency would also give coastal communities and the wider public a clearer picture of activities taking place in Fiji’s waters.
Information on commercial fishing activities, catch allocations and other fisheries activities would progressively become more accessible, she said.
Bainivalu said this was particularly important for small-scale fishers, seafood workers, women in fisheries and community leaders whose livelihoods and food security depend on marine resources.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen confidence in Fiji’s fisheries sector among investors and international partners by providing greater certainty around rules and fisheries information.
Bainivalu said transparency would support Fiji’s position as a responsible and sustainable seafood-producing country and help meet international commitments, including the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
Fiji will also work with FiTI to strengthen its Fisheries Information System and improve the organisation and consistency of fisheries data.
This includes information on vessel registrations, fishing permits, marine resource assessments and fisheries revenues, which can progressively be made available through public platforms.
Bainivalu said the initiative ultimately comes down to building trust in how Fiji’s marine resources are managed.
“Our people should have confidence in how our marine resources are managed. Our fishers should know that their livelihoods are being protected. And Government must have the right information to make decisions that serve Fiji’s interests.
“By taking this step, Fiji becomes the first Pacific Island nation to commit to the FiTI Standard,” she said.
Bainivalu said she was proud to be part of the initiative, describing it as an important step towards a fisheries sector that is more open, accountable, sustainable and beneficial to Fijians….PACNEWS
PNG – ELNINO: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 15 Sep 2026
El Nino may affect PNG growth: ANZ
PORT MORESBY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—The El Nino phenomena is expected to affect agriculture output and the Papua LNG (liquefied natural gas) Project, decreasing economic growth from 5.8 percent to 4.9 percent, according to an economist.
Australia and New Zealand Bank international senior economist Dr Kishti Sen told The National that a strong El Niño event was expected to influence agricultural production levels, farm incomes and domestic demand, while a delay in the progress of Papua LNG would reduce the anticipated near-term boost to construction activity.
Sen said agriculture output growth was forecast to moderate to 3.1 percent this year, from 3.5 percent previously.
Lower farm incomes are expected to flow through to household-facing sectors, including manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and telecommunications, as well as taxes on products, which account for around six percent of the economy.
“We estimate subdued private consumption growth will subtract 0.7ppt from our previous headline gross domestic growth forecast,” Sen said.
“With Papua LNG now expected to start next year, rather than late this year as previously assumed, we have dialled down our forecast uplift in construction gross value added to 16 percent from 19 percent.
“Construction is now expected to contribute 1.1ppt to 2026 gross domestic produce (GDP) growth, down from 1.3ppt earlier.
“For next year, we forecast GDP growth of 8.4 percent, supported by commencement of Papua LNG work, increased business investment, election-related stimulus and a rebound in agricultural output.”
Together, softer consumer demand and a smaller construction uplift are expected to subtract 0.9ppt from ANZ’s earlier projection, lowering GDP growth forecast earlier this year to 4.9 percent.
Sen believes that consumer demand would remain relatively resilient, supported by income from alluvial mining, rising cocoa prices and private-sector employment, especially in construction.
He added that public demand was also expected to support growth, while private construction remains solid, underpinned by several medium-to-large projects across the country.
For next year, ANZ economists forecast GDP growth of 8.4 percent, powered by the start of Papua LNG, increased business investment, election-related stimulus and a rebound in agricultural output…. PACNEWS
PAC – FINANCING AGREEMENT: PACNEWS/SPREP PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 15 Sep 2026
SPREP secures €880,000 for second phase of Kiwa Initiative
NOUMEA, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS/SPREP) —- The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has signed an €880,000(US$1,016,991) financing agreement to launch the second phase of the Kiwa Initiative’s Technical Assistance component, strengthening Pacific capacity to implement nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation.
The three-year programme, running from 2026 to 2029, will support 17 Kiwa-eligible Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) through practical training, technical and policy support, and regional knowledge sharing.
The agreement was signed on Monday, 07 September 2026, during the Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Regional Director and SPREP Director General.
Launched in 2020, the Kiwa Initiative supports nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate change adaptation across Pacific Island Countries and Territories.
For its second phase, SPREP, in collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC), will focus on strengthening the capacity of PICTs to design and implement gender-responsive, socially inclusive and rights-based nature-based solutions, with a particular focus on coastal ecosystem restoration.
The programme will provide training and develop technical tools and guidance to support coastal ecosystem restoration.
It will also promote knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning among Kiwa-supported projects across the region, while documenting and sharing Pacific experiences and lessons learned on coastal restoration and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI).
The programme is designed to strengthen regional capacity to deliver inclusive and locally relevant nature-based solutions to climate change challenges….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific parties to CITES gather in Samoa for shark management workshop
APIA, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—The protection and management of sharks is on the agenda as parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) gather in Samoa this week.
The parties are meeting to build regional capacity for regulating international trade in CITES-listed transboundary and migratory species harvested on the high seas, in particular for making Non-Detrimental Findings (NDFs) for shark species.
Under CITES, an NDF is a mandatory legal and scientific prerequisite before a country can issue export permits for species listed in CITES Appendix I or II.
Representatives from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, are joined by the Cook Islands, as an observer, for the Regional CITES post-CoP20 Shark management workshop.
SPREP’s Threatened and Migratory Species Adviser, Turang Teuea, welcomed all the participants to Samoa, and highlighted the significance of the gathering.
“Building capacity and supporting policy coordination in the Pacific region are key cross-cutting missions of SPREP. With all Pacific CITES Parties, plus one non-party attending, this meeting also highlights SPREPs role as convening institution: bringing together experts and decision makers to support science-based biodiversity conservation policies at regional level,” she said.
Held at Hotel Tanoa from 14-17 September, the workshop aims to lay the groundwork to support Pacific parties to CITES and in particular, for making Non Detrimental Findings for shark species carefully tracked, and for CITES-related monitoring and enhance enforcement capacity support.
Ms Teuea said: “This effort adds to many aspects of CITES-related technical and policy support provided by SPREP, including the organisation of successful CITES preCoP meetings in 2019, 2022 and 2025; the financial support for conducting feasibility studies for electronic trade permitting systems; CITES-related compliance support; and support for NDFs for various species.”
SPREP’s CMS-CITES Pacific Officer, Mr Martin Hitziger, said that one of the key outputs from this week’s workshop is a shared regional understanding and enhanced capacity for making coherent NDFs for transboundary and migratory species.
“We are also looking to build shared regional awareness of requirements, challenges and needs for regulating foreign, chartered and flag of convenience fleets harvesting in EEZs and high seas.”
SPREP acknowledges the financial support of the European Union through the Pacific European Marine Partnership Project (PEUMP Phase II), and the Government of New Zealand, for making the workshop possible. …PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Pacific Meteorological Council’s coordination journey
By Viliame Tawanakoro in Nuku’alofa, Tonga
NUKU’ALOFA, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —The Pacific Meteorological Council was formed in 2011, replacing a series of Regional Meteorological Services Directors meetings that began in 1993. The formation of the PMC and the coincident establishment of the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership occurred in response to a growing appreciation of the need to increase meteorological coordination in the region.
A review commissioned in 2010 considered weather and climate services in the Pacific and recommended a strengthening of regional arrangements. This review had also built upon a 2000 needs analysis for strengthening Pacific Island Meteorological Services.
Attendance at Pacific Meteorological Council meetings grew from 54 in 2011 to 168 in 2015. Attendance continued to grow, with the 2023 meeting attracting 230 participants. The PMC initiated a series of Ministerial Meetings on Meteorology, with the first held in 2015 and the most recent in 2023. The PMC also held a Pacific Donor and Development Partners Meeting in 2023, the first of its type.
Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the PMC has, overall, been highly successful in realising its intent of greater regional coordination in support of hydro-meteorological services and regional needs, and visibility for the importance of hydrometeorology.
A stressed coordination environment
Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHSs) operate in a crowded, stressed coordination environment with many national, bilateral, regional, and global projects. The review recorded concerns about fragmented implementation, short project cycles, donor and partner coordination, and the administrative burden on NMHSs.
There are two main Meteorology Programs in operation in the Pacific Islands. One operates under the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) framework as part of the WMO Region V structure, and one operates under the SPREP framework under the Pacific Met Council structure. Both structures have the same stakeholders in the Pacific.
Multiple programmes have led to separate governance arrangements, country consultations, needs assessments, technical missions, workplans, training programmes, procurement processes, monitoring systems, reporting requirements, steering committees, donor engagement processes, and investment pipelines. For small NMHSs with limited human resources, participation in multiple programme processes can itself become a significant operational burden.
The challenge is therefore to ensure that available assistance is coordinated, complementary, country-led and strategically targeted.
PMC and the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership
The Apia-based part of the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership is not, and has never been, sufficiently resourced. Despite the growth in PMC-related workload since 2011, an ambitious policy and project agenda, and an obvious policy impetus, only one full-time position is currently filled, with some of the excess workload being borne by project-funded staff.
The PMDP capacity issues are also affecting the effectiveness of PMC Panels. The need for the PMC and Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership to assist in coordination continues to increase.
The Review identified a clear implementation and follow-up gap between PMC meetings. It found that PMC actions were not sufficiently tracked between meetings, Panel activity often concentrated around the biennial PMC, communications and meeting preparations were sometimes late, and stakeholders were frustrated by the rate of progress in some areas.
Management Group between meetings
The PMC Management Group would provide a standing member-led mechanism to identify duplication and gaps, maintain strategic alignment with the PIMS and the 2050 Strategy, and give timely guidance without waiting two years for the next full PMC.
The PMC Management Group shall coordinate implementation across the NMHSs, make recommendations to the full PMC meeting, provide guidance to the Secretariat on the implementation of the programme of works agreed by the PMC meeting, identify duplication and gaps in implementation, maintain strategic alignment with the Pacific Islands Meteorology Strategy and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific, and represent PMC in high-level consultations.
The PMC Management Group is a subordinate body of the PMC and cannot make decisions affecting the PMC that require the input of all PMC members or overturn decisions made by the PMC meeting. It will hold at least one meeting in the years the PMC does not meet. The meeting will be held virtually unless otherwise agreed. Decisions taken by the PMC Management Group will be by consensus.
The survey provides a strong mandate to proceed while also favouring a cautious implementation approach. The two leading timing options account for 28 of 32 responses: either establish the Group at PMC-8 or first operate it on a pilot basis. The proposed approach combines these preferences by authorising the Management Group at PMC-8 on a pilot basis, with a formal effectiveness review at PMC-9.
A hybrid unified steering committee
A unified steering committee would substantially reduce the number of regional Steering Committee meetings and travel costs, reduce the meeting burden on NMHS Directors, improve coordination between programmes and alignment with PIMS, allow donors to see the broader PMC investment landscape, preserve programme-specific accountability and existing donor agreements, and reduce duplication and create opportunities for joint investment.
The Hybrid Unified PMC Steering Committee will provide a single, coordinated governance platform for major programmes and projects operating under the Pacific Meteorological Council, while preserving the specific mandates, Terms of Reference, membership, fiduciary responsibilities and decision-making requirements of individual programmes and projects.
The meeting itself is unified, but legal, fiduciary and programme accountability remains distinct where required. WRP funding decisions remain WRP Steering Committee decisions even though they are taken during the Unified PMC Steering Committee meeting.
A saving in the order of US$170K in travel expenses could have been made. A hybrid unified steering committee approach is proposed for piloting in Niue in 2027…..PACNEWS
This is the first of a three-part editorial series on the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC), the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy (PIMS) and Weather Ready Pacific (WRP). All information used is sourced from the PCM-8 Agenda.
PACNEWS DIGEST
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Taveuni communities recognised for leading climate resilience and environmental restoration
NAVAKACOA, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)— Communities across Taveuni have been recognised for their leadership and commitment to protecting the island’s natural environment, as the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) project formally handed over project-supported initiatives to community ownership.
The Community Handover and Appreciation Event hosted in Taveuni on 23 July 2026 brought together community leaders, women, youth, farmers, government representatives, regional partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate achievements delivered through three years of collaboration.
For the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the event marked a celebration of what communities have achieved and the beginning of a new phase of local stewardship.
“Today is a celebration and a handover,” said Amena Yauvoli, SPREP Director, Fiji Office and Biodiversity Conservation. “We are here to recognise the achievements made through the PEBACC+ project and most importantly to acknowledge the communities who have been at the heart of this work.”
Since implementation began in 2023, PEBACC+ has worked alongside communities across Taveuni to demonstrate how ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) can strengthen resilience to climate change while protecting the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and culture.
Among the results achieved, 60.5 hectares of degraded land were reforested across 13 landowning units, and 7.5 hectares of mangrove ecosystems were rehabilitated, with the Navakacoa Women’s and Youth Groups playing a leading role in mangrove planting, coastal rehabilitation and awareness activities.
The project also supported four women’s groups in Taveuni to establish poultry projects, providing chicks, feed, poultry houses and training. The initiative strengthened women’s economic opportunities while linking livelihoods with environmental outcomes, with chicken manure being returned to farming and reforestation activities.
Perhaps most importantly for the handover, some landowning units are now replanting and sourcing their own seedlings for reforestation, demonstrating growing community ownership and a commitment to continue restoration beyond the life of the project.
PEBACC+ also invested in strengthening communities’ ability to sustain and expand this work through a series of Writeshops, community representatives from across Taveuni were supported to identify local environmental and livelihood challenges, develop project concepts, prepare budgets and identify potential funding partners. The intention was to build proposal-writing skills and help communities access future financing for locally led initiatives and continue the ecosystem-based adaptation work they have begun.
Recognition and awards for the work were presented to Mataqali Vidawa, Mataqali Lekutu, Mataqali Naituku, Mataqali Qali, Navakacoa Women and Youth Group, Duivosavosa, Tokatoka Wainiyaku, Tokatoka Batiravilevu, Mataqali Soso, Vuna Kevin Young Farmers Alumni, and women’s groups across the various mataqali.
Representing Fiji’s Ministry of Forestry, Acting/Deputy Conservator of Forests, Apisai Rinamalo, acknowledged the traditional leaders, elders, women, youth, farmers, and volunteers who contributed their knowledge, labour, and leadership.
“The achievements we celebrate today belong first and foremost to the communities,” said Rinamalo, highlighting the power of community leadership and local stewardship. “The success of this project reflects your ownership and dedication.”
He also recognised the role of communities in protecting Fiji’s forests, watersheds, coastlines and biodiversity, noting that the success of the project reflects their ownership and dedication.
The handover signifies a transition in responsibility, with communities taking ownership of the investments made through the PEBACC+ project.
“The handover is not the end of this journey,” said Yauvoli. “Rather, it marks the beginning of a new chapter where communities take full ownership of the investments, knowledge, and systems established through the project.”
The project has directly benefited 4,520 people across the island; however, the lasting measure of success will be what communities continue to do with the knowledge, skills, and resources they have gained.
Youth have also emerged as important drivers of this transition. In Vuna, the Kevin Young Farmers Alumni (KYFA), a group of 14 young farmers, received support to strengthen their farming practices and transition towards organic production. With PEBACC+ support, the group set aside four acres for organic vegetable farming and received seedlings and farming tools, while also receiving guidance to reduce reliance on chemical inputs and improve long-term soil health.
As PEBACC+ concludes, SPREP and partners acknowledged the communities of Taveuni for their commitment and encouraged continued collaboration to sustain the gains made.
“The future of climate resilience in Fiji depends not only on projects, but on strong communities, healthy ecosystems and partnerships that endure,” said Yauvoli.
In Taveuni, SPREP worked alongside the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs Board through the Cakaudrove Provincial Office, the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development through the District Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, Teitei Taveuni, the Pacific Community (SPC), UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, WWF Pacific, and communities throughout the implementation of the PEBACC+ project.
PEBACC+ is a regional project implemented by SPREP and funded by the Kiwa Initiative with co-financing from French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM). ….PACNEWS
For more information, please contact: Setaita Tavanabola, Communications Officer, PEBACC+ Project, SPREP; email: setaitat@sprep.org or visit www.sprep.org/pebacc-plus
