In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Forum SG Waqa urges Pacific Ministers to turn regional resilience plans into action amid global turmoil
2. PACIFIC — Marshall Islands declared State of Emergency over fuel price shock, Finance Minister tells Pacific Ministers
3. PACIFIC — U.S and allied forces converge in Guam, CNMI, Japan for Valiant Shield and Citadel exercises
4. AUST — Fears for poultry as second bird flu case sparks action
5. PALAU — Palau receives first deported migrant under U.S Immigration MOU
6. NZ — 84,000 households face higher rents under the government’s major social housing shake-up
7. PACNEWS BIZ — ADB approves $10 million grant facility to strengthen resilience and Economic transformation in Vanuatu
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Palau Customs receives Japan-funded drug detection technology to strengthen border security
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific fisheries step up digital tools for stronger monitoring, compliance and enforcement
10. PACNEWS BIZ — ‘Bad Money’ must end, says Finance Minister Lilo
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji seeks deeper trade, investment ties with New Zealand
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Lab Professionals meet as brain-drain threatens services
13. PACNEWS BIZ — PM Wale backs indigenous business growth
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Ministry of Fisheries moves to strengthen marine and aquaculture laws
15. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji validates new Sea Turtle monitoring protocols and priority maps to bolster marine conservation
16. PACNEWS BIZ — Aviation talent pipeline: Fiji Link
17. PACNEWS BIZ — SPBD Fiji surpasses FJD$150 million in loans to women entrepreneurs
18. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG Govt to control sovereign wealth fund before GE27
19. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific weather services explore how AI can help improve forecasting
20. PACNEWS DIGEST — Global Leaders announce $6.4 billion for Ocean Action at first African Our Ocean Conference
21. PACNEWS DIGEST — Reclaiming the conversation: what the Pleasurenesia guide means for youth
PAC – FEMM MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Forum SG Waqa urges Pacific Ministers to turn regional resilience plans into action amid global turmoil
MAJURO, 23 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa has urged Pacific finance ministers to use worsening global conditions as an opportunity to strengthen regional resilience, saying the Middle East conflict and other international crises have intensified economic pressures across the region.
Addressing the 2026 Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) in Majuro on Tuesday, Waqa said the Pacific faces a significantly more difficult regional and global environment as conflicts continue to disrupt economic stability.
“We meet at a time when the challenges facing our region have worsened with the regional and global environment and outlook substantially deteriorating.
The expansion of the Middle East conflict into Iran and other ongoing conflicts have compounded the challenges facing our economies, bringing the world into greater political, economic and social turmoil,” he said.
Waqa said finance ministers were already addressing these challenges at the national level, while the regional discussions at this year’s meeting would focus on strengthening financial and economic resilience.
“As Finance Ministers, you are already addressing these challenges as part of your regular national efforts.
At the regional level and FEMM this year while using the impact of the Middle East crisis as the basis of our discussions, it is also about acknowledging the many initiatives and pathways you have put in place to strengthen our resilience, financially and economically, to be able to rise above these shocks,” Waqa told Ministers.
Before addressing the economic agenda, Waqa extended the Forum’s sympathies following the recent fire in Ebeye.
“On behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum family, I convey our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected, particularly the families, businesses, and communities who have suffered loss and disruption,” he said.
He commended the Marshall Islands Government, emergency responders and communities for their response to the disaster.
Waqa said the incident highlighted the importance of resilience and preparedness in responding to unexpected shocks with economic and social consequences.
“This incident serves as a timely reminder of the importance of resilience, preparedness, and collective support in the face of unexpected shocks that can have significant social and economic consequences for our communities,” he said.
Waqa said the current global environment also presented an opportunity for Pacific countries to better prepare for future shocks.
“The current global environment presents a unique opportunity to focus on preparing ourselves to be resilient in readiness for the next shock building on our strength as individual nations and as a collective,” he emphasised.
Referring to outcomes from the recent Energy and Transportation Ministers Meeting in Papua New Guinea, Waqa highlighted the potential role of Papua New Guinea in regional fuel supply.
“The Manubada declaration from the recent Energy and Transportation ministers meeting in Papua New Guinea included exploring PNG’s potential to play an increasing role in supplying oil and refined products to the region. How can we translate this into a practical reality?” he asked.
Waqa also highlighted opportunities linked to the transition to cleaner energy.
“The Iran conflict is also increasing the spotlight on transitioning away from fossil fuel to cleaner energy.”
He referred to the Palau Leaders Ascent Dialogue and preparations linked to COP31 as opportunities to advance renewable energy and climate action.
“Some opportunities that we need to bear in mind include the Palau Leaders Ascent Dialogue which has a strong focus on moving towards 100% renewable energy.
The COP31 Australia-Türkiye partnership with the Pacific playing a key role including hosting the UNFCCC Pre COP here in Fiji with a Leaders segment in Tuvalu is a platform to elevate practical ways of keeping the 1.5 degrees global temperature goal within reach including through expediting the clean energy transition,” he stressed.
Waqa said Pacific leaders had invoked the Biketawa Declaration as part of the regional response to current challenges.
“Our Leaders have also invoked the Biketewa Declaration to underpin our regional response.”
He said the mechanism had strengthened cooperation among regional organisations, development partners, the private sector and civil society groups.
“Through this regional mechanism, we have seen increased cooperation between CROP agencies, with our development partners, with the private sector and civil society organisations. It is very encouraging and further emphasises the strength of our regional and inclusive approaches,” he said.
Waqa said regional economic cooperation and integration were already producing results through initiatives endorsed by ministers.
“Regional economic cooperation and integration is not a new issue. We are seeing positive manifestations from the collective decisions you have made including the PRF, the CBR project, the CFAMS, the PFM regional coordination mechanism, the private sector strategy, just to name a few, with the PRED the over-arching framework that guides our approach,” he said.
He also acknowledged the support of bilateral and multilateral partners to Forum members.
“I take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the important contribution from our bilateral and multilateral partners.”
Waqa specifically thanked Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and United Nations agencies for their support.
“Together we are stronger, said PIF Secretary General, Baron Waqa…. PACNEWS
PAC – FEMM MEET: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Marshall Islands declared State of Emergency over fuel price shock, Finance Minister tells Pacific Ministers
MAJURO, 23 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) declared a State of Emergency following sharp increases in global fuel and commodity prices linked to the Iran conflict, Finance Minister David Paul told Pacific finance ministers as he opened the 2026 Forum Economic Ministers Meeting.
Addressing ministers and officials in Majuro Tuesday, Paul said the challenges leading up to the meeting, including disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East, underscored the need for regional economic resilience.
“Your attendance today is a demonstration of your commitment to ensuring our region remains economically and financially resilient despite the challenges we face,” he said.
He also commended the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and his ministry team for organising the meeting.
Paul said this year’s Forum Economic Ministers Meeting theme, “Economic and Financial Inclusion in the Pacific,” builds on last year’s focus on resilience and sustainability.
“The theme this year underscores not only the need to stand unified but being inclusive given the challenges we currently face are felt across all levels of society and undermining our economic development efforts,” he told Forum Economic Ministers.
Paul said rising costs of energy, transport, food and fuel had once again exposed the Pacific’s vulnerability to external shocks because of its heavy dependence on global markets.
“The current challenges of escalated costs of energy, transport, food, and fuel have once again demonstrated how vulnerable we are to external shocks which are being felt through our heavy dependence on global markets on some of our very basic household needs as well as what sustains our private sector and economic growth,” he said.
Paul said the rising cost of living was placing pressure on communities, particularly low-income households, people living with disabilities and those dependent on limited social protection systems.
He said the Marshall Islands faced many of the same constraints as other Pacific economies.
“My country is not immune to these shocks as we share some of the common challenges that classify us as small economies, isolated from major markets with a narrow resource base and high dependency on imports and external financial support.”
Paul said these vulnerabilities prompted the government to declare a State of Emergency after fuel and commodity prices surged.
“It is these vulnerabilities amid the Iran conflict that prompted our government to declare a State of Emergency following the sharp spikes in global fuel and commodity prices.”
He noted that ministers were meeting toward the end of the 90-day State of Emergency declared in March 2026.
“As part of the SOE, our government has implemented measures to cushion households, stabilise essential services, and contain fiscal pressures,” the FEMM chair said.
Paul acknowledged support from development partners, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
He also highlighted the Marshall Islands’ efforts to improve financial inclusion through digital technology.
“In line with this year’s FEMM theme of inclusion and acknowledging the widely dispersed nature of our country creating structural barriers to financial access as well limiting access to traditional banking services, my government has introduced the Lomalo app.”
Paul said ministers would be shown the Republic of the Marshall Islands Digital Payment and Wallet System during the Ministerial Talanoa as an example of efforts to strengthen financial inclusion.
He said the meeting agenda had been structured around the Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED) and its strategic focus areas, with discussions aimed at advancing regional cooperation and integration.
“It acknowledges the significant potential for greater economic cooperation and integration across many sectors with our discussions over the next two days reflecting on the initiatives that are being progressed through strengthening existing regional institutions and arrangements, and through coordinated regional policies and approaches,” he explained.
Paul said a dedicated session with private sector and civil society representatives would examine ways to strengthen economic and financial inclusion across the region.
“We also have a dedicated session for dialogue with our private sector and civil society colleagues to explore how we can collaborate to navigate the risks our communities and people are facing and, in the process, really strengthen economic and financial inclusion in our region.”
He said the Pacific already has a framework to guide regional action and that the meeting provides an opportunity to improve coordination and integration.
“We already have the blueprint for our collective actions that enhance our national efforts towards greater economic and financial resilience and inclusion. The next two days provide us with the opportunity to share, discuss and explore added options that will help strengthen coherence and coordination towards strengthened regional economic integration,” he stressed.
Paul also urged ministers to work together to address the region’s economic challenges.
“These are trying times for all of us. As stewards of our economies, we have a responsibility to guide and direct our countries to navigate and mitigate the challenges we face. I am confident that with our collective wisdom, expertise, experience, and God’s blessing, we can weather the storm together and continue to enhance our economic cooperation and integration,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – DEFENCE: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Tue 23 Jun 2026
U.S and allied forces converge in Guam, CNMI, Japan for Valiant Shield and Citadel exercises
SAIPAN, 23 JUNE 2026 ( PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — U.S Pacific Command joint forces, along with allied and partner forces, today kicked off Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, a biennial field training exercise that prepares the joint and combined force to rapidly respond to crises and contingencies across the spectrum of operations — from humanitarian assistance and disaster response to armed conflict. ‘
The training exercise will run until 01 July and take place in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Japan and at sea around the Mariana Islands Range Complex.
Taking place at the same time is the annual force protection exercise Citadel Pacific 2026, which is to enhance the readiness and capability of the installation to respond to internal or external threats.
The U.S Naval Base Guam is participating in Citadel, hosted by Commander Naval Installations Command. The exercise began on 22 June and runs until 30 June.
“Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions to normal base operations, but there may be times when exercise events cause increased traffic around the installation, occasional delays in base access, and gate closures,” states a press release from Joint Region Marianas.
“Area residents may also see increased first responder activity associated with the exercise. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders,” it added.
As part of the exercise, the Giant Voice public address systems at Naval Base Guam installations will be activated and residents in surrounding areas will hear exercise announcements regarding force protection conditions throughout the week. The use of the GV system adds realism to the exercise.
Valiant Shield 26 focuses on integrating interoperability training in a multidomain environment. This training builds real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, in space, on land and in cyberspace.
The AB Won Pat Internatonal Airport Authority on Guam has been designated as a support location for the exercises, which consist of U.S military aircraft and personnel.
“GIAA’s runways and taxiways are a vital piece of infrastructure suppor0ng not only commercial aviation and also serves as a critical alternate or divert location for military opera0ons,” said John Quinata, the airport’s executive manager.
“GIAA is proud to support regional military exercises as a support location.”
Exercises such as VS26 enable all U.S forces and allies across the Indo-Pacific region to integrate and train in precise, lethal and overwhelming scenarios that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the joint and combined force.
With the involvement of U.S Space Command and U.S Transportation Command, VS26 is expanding the multidomain, cross-combatant command collaboration required for any large-scale exercise or operation.
“Valiant Shield demonstrates our enduring commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of U.S Pacific Fleet.
“Exercising advanced multidomain capabilities with our allies ensures we continue to seamlessly innovate and operate together, project combat power together and prevail over any challenge — together.”
The exercise assists U.S, allied and partner forces in developing regional and global power projection capabilities. Integrated training provides a full range of options to succeed in the defence of U.S interests and those of like-minded nations around the world…. PACNEWS
AUST – BIRD FLU STRAIN: AAP PACNEWS 3: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Fears for poultry as second bird flu case sparks action
CANBERRA, 23 JUNE 2026 (AAP) — Australia is on high alert after a second bird tested positive for a deadly strain of avian flu, raising concerns the virus may be spreading in remote locations.
A brown skua and a northern giant petrel had tested positive for the H5N1 strain of the flu after they were found in Western Australia, federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed on Monday.
There has been no evidence of mass mortalities among birds, with both animals discovered on a remote beach in Esperance, about 700km southeast of Perth.
“We are working to determine whether or not the H5 bird flu has established in the wildlife or established in Australia, other than these two isolated birds,’ Collins told reporters.
The poultry and agricultural sectors are free from the flu, with samples of the infected birds to be investigated over the next week.
It was too soon to call whether the confirmed cases would have an impact on egg or chicken prices, Ms Collins said.
“We have done all the preparedness and all the work and we have learnt from (previous) infections and overseas from keeping it out of the agricultural production,” she said.
“Can we do that forever? We don’t know … we are certainly working very closely with both the chicken meat and the egg poultry system and industries to do everything we can do and improve biosecurity in those systems.”
A hotline for members of the public to report their concerns has been established, as more than a dozen cases of sick or dead birds are reported.
Despite there being no detections in commercial poultry, major chicken producer Inghams Group announced it would mitigate against any potential risks across all WA sites.
“This includes the implementation of a complete lockdown, preventing all non-essential access, across all the company’s WA farms and processing operations,” the company said.
The meat producer is seeking a regional housing order from the state government that would allow free-range poultry to be kept indoors.
Australia had been preparing for the deadly avian flu for years, as the only continent previously unaffected by the strain, chief veterinary officer Beth Cookson said.
“Our actions at the moment are really to understand whether these two single individual birds have been able to spread it into other populations in Australia,” Dr Cookson told ABC Radio.
“Our approach is to really learn from the overseas experience and look at the practical actions that can be put in place to mitigate the impacts as far as possible.”
She said the two sick birds had a breeding habitat on the sub-Antarctic territories Heard Island and McDonald Islands, where the strain has killed 13,359 southern elephant seal pups.
People are urged to report any sick or injured bird they come across, but to keep their distance as the virus can spread to humans in close proximity omn rare occasions.
The federal government has developed more than 100 response plans for key sites and vulnerable species and invested about $100 million (US$69 million) in preparedness.
The discovery has fuelled fears among scientists, conservationists and agricultural groups, who point to mass deaths and species-level population reductions overseas.
University of Melbourne researcher Michelle Wille said international experiences painted a gloomy picture.
“Everywhere this virus has emerged has been really catastrophic, with mass mortality events in wildlife, and in some places, we’ve seen species-level reductions in population,” she said…. PACNEWS
PALAU – DEPORTATION: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Palau receives first deported migrant under U.S Immigration MOU
KOROR, 22 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — The first third-country national deported to Palau under a memorandum of understanding with the United States arrived on the island in May and departed within two weeks, according to information obtained from the Office of the President.
The individual, identified as a middle-aged Vietnamese man, is the first deportee transferred to Palau under an agreement in which the island nation agreed to accept migrants removed from the United States for alleged violations of U.S. immigration law.
Before the man’s arrival, U.S officials submitted nearly 10 names to Palau authorities for vetting and consideration as the first group of third-country nationals under the agreement. That number was significantly reduced in the days that followed until only one individual remained on the list.
Upon landing, the man was met at the airport by representatives from the Office of the President and the Bureau of Immigration.
He was then transported to Palau Community College, where he was assigned a room in dormitory space designated for such individuals. A former PCC director assisted with his transport and orientation.
Those who met him said he spoke limited English but communicated that he intended to settle on the island and remain in Palau for an extended period.
Shortly after his arrival, the man requested assistance obtaining a local SIM card. Once connected, he began communicating with family members in both the United States and Vietnam, sources said.
Despite his stated intention to stay, the man departed Palau in less than two weeks.
Representatives of the International Organisation for Migration met with the individual during his brief stay.
Sources with knowledge of the situation said IOM facilitated and assisted with his departure from the island. Island Times reached out to IOM for comment on the extent of its involvement with the man and its role in his departure but did not receive a response before publication.
The Office of the President declined to provide additional details about the man’s arrival or departure dates, his name, or other identifying information, citing security concerns for the individual…. PACNEWS
NZ – SOCIAL HOUSING SHAKE UP: PMN PACNEWS 3: Tue 23 Jun 2026
84,000 households face higher rents under the government’s major social housing shake-up
WELLINGTON, 23 JUNE 206 (PMN) — Pacific families living in social housing are being urged to prepare for higher rents as wider changes to the housing system move ahead.
This comes as the Government rolls out what housing leaders describe as some of the biggest social housing reforms in decades.
From April 2027, social housing tenants will see their rent rise from 25 percent to 30 percent of household income.
The change is expected to affect around 84,000 households with rents increasing by an average of about $31 (US$17.67) a week.
The Government says the move is part of a wider plan to make the social housing system fairer and encourage people who can move into private rentals to do so.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop has argued the current system is unfair because some social housing tenants are financially better off than people renting privately while receiving accommodation support.
The Government says the extra money collected through higher rents will help fund increases to the Accommodation Supplement for low-income private renters.
But community housing providers warn that the changes could place extra pressure on families already struggling with the cost of living.
Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Paul Gilbert, the chief executive for Community Housing Aotearoa, said many households would feel the impact immediately.
“Next April, our staff in the community sector and the staff of Kainga Ora are going to be going to their social housing tenants and saying, sorry, we need to put your rent up 20 percent in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”
Gilbert said the sector was particularly concerned about how the changes would be introduced.
“A 20 percent increase on day one, 01 April next year is a very high threshold for people who are choosing between feeding the kids or paying the rent.”
He also questioned the evidence behind the policy.
“Not seen it. If there is, I would like anyone who’s got that evidence to pass it my way, please. I’ve never seen that reported anywhere in the world, no.”
Gilbert said the reforms could significantly change the role of social housing.
“What they’re doing is they are fundamentally changing the nature of social housing by narrowing down the definition of who is eligible and who is not.”
The Government has already signalled it is considering tighter eligibility rules, more regular tenancy reviews and possible limits on how long some tenants can remain in social housing.
Ministers say the goal is to ensure support reaches those with the greatest need and to help others move towards independence where possible.
Gilbert said community housing providers have concerns about those proposals and want to be involved in discussions about how they will work in practice.
“It’s one of the most significant social housing reforms in decades.”
He said the immediate focus for Pacific households should be understanding what the changes could mean for family budgets.
“We’ve already started talking to our tenants that we house within the community sector, but many of your whanau will be in Kainga Ora homes.
“And so, I’d suggest they speak with their tenancy managers.”
Gilbert said some providers are encouraging tenants to start setting aside money now, ahead of next year’s increase.
“What we really need to start doing in some cases, what our providers are encouraging people to do is to start putting away a little bit of extra money and start saving for that.”
As details of the reforms continue to emerge, many Pacific families will be watching closely to see how the changes affect both the cost of housing and access to support in the years ahead…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
VAN – GRANT: ADB PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
ADB approves $10 million grant facility to strengthen resilience and Economic transformation in Vanuatu
MANILA, 23 JUNE 2026 (ADB) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$10 million grant facility to help Vanuatu strengthen project delivery, build resilience to environmental and disaster risks, support private sector development, and accelerate sustainable economic growth.
The Vanuatu Sustainable Economic Transformation Facility is ADB’s first Small Expenditure Financing Facility in the Pacific. It will provide flexible, multisector financing to help the Government of Vanuatu respond more quickly to emerging development needs while improving the effectiveness and sustainability of ADB-supported investments.
“Vanuatu’s development priorities are evolving rapidly in an increasingly uncertain environment,” said Regional Director of ADB’s Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office Jyotsana Varma.
“This facility gives the government the flexibility and capacity to respond to emerging challenges, strengthen project delivery, and invest in long-term resilience. By supporting institutional strengthening, private sector development, and critical services, it is an important step towards a more resilient and prosperous future for the people of Vanuatu.”
Vanuatu is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries and faces significant challenges related to geographic isolation, limited institutional capacity, and the high cost of delivering basic services across a widely dispersed island population.
ADB’s financing is designed to help address these constraints while unlocking new development opportunities across the government’s priority areas, including public–private partnerships, digital transformation, agriculture development, and water security. It will provide an initial US$2.5 million to boost the capacity of the Vanuatu Project Management Unit and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management to manage a growing portfolio of investments. The financing will support project and financial management, procurement, safeguards, and monitoring systems.
The facility will also provide flexible financing to help address project implementation challenges, improve the maintenance of critical infrastructure and services, and support rapid disaster recovery efforts.
The initiative will be financed through the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to the poorest and most vulnerable countries in Asia and the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PALAU – CUSTOMS: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Palau Customs receives Japan-funded drug detection technology to strengthen border security
KOROR, 23 JUNE 2206 (ISLAND TIMES) — Palau’s borders just got stronger.
The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has received three new handheld drug detection devices funded through a grant from the Japan International Cooperation System, bolstering the nation’s ability to intercept illegal drugs at all points of entry.
The devices — a Handheld Drug Detector, a Handheld Narcotic Analyser and a Handheld Backscatter Screening System — were awarded through a JICS grant in fiscal year 2022 and represent the second phase of a multi-year border security project between Japan and Palau.
The technology will enhance Customs’ non-intrusive screening and field-testing capabilities at the Palau International Airport, the post office, the seaport and during field operations, with a focus on combating methamphetamine and other controlled substances.
“These new technologies will further enhance Customs screening capabilities and strengthen collaborative enforcement efforts with partner law enforcement agencies,” the bureau said in a statement.
The Japan-Palau partnership has already produced results. X-ray equipment delivered in an earlier phase of the grant assisted Customs officers in intercepting packages containing presumptive methamphetamine in May. A mobile X-ray truck is expected to be delivered in the project’s final phase next year.
Customs officers are currently completing online training on the new devices. Hands-on training will follow before full deployment. The bureau will coordinate enforcement efforts with the Bureau of Public Safety.
The BCBP extended appreciation to the Government of Japan and JICS for their continued support in advancing Palau’s border security, economic prosperity and regional safety…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Pacific fisheries step up digital tools for stronger monitoring, compliance and enforcement
NADI, 23 JUNE 2026 (FFA) — Fisheries monitoring, compliance and enforcement practitioners from Members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) are gathered in Nadi, Fiji, this week to advance a suite of digital systems supporting fisheries monitoring, compliance and enforcement across the Pacific.
Jointly funded by New Zealand through its Sustainable Fisheries Programme (SPF) and through the Pacific–European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP II) programme, 40 participants from 14 Members are attending the Second FFA Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Related Activity Workshop (MCSRAW2) from 22–26 June 2026.
The workshop supports the implementation of priorities agreed at the 29th Regional MCW Working Group (MCSWG29) meeting held in March earlier this year and contributes to the delivery of the FFA Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy (RMCSS) 2024-2029.
Among the key fisheries initiatives being progressed is FFA’s electronic Port State Measures (e-PSM) system, launched in 2024 and fully operational since 2025. The system strengthens port inspection and monitoring processes, and information sharing across the FFA Membership to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Participants will revisit the development of a regional electronic Catch Documentation Scheme (e-CDS), aimed at improving the traceability and verification of fish products throughout the supply chain. They will also discuss the draft electronic fisheries licensing data standards designed to improve the consistency and exchange of licensing information across the region.
In addition, the workshop will provide training on the Online Dashboard, which enables Members to monitor and track implementation progress against the FFA RMCSS 2024 – 2029.
FFA Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Policy Advisor, Jason Raubani, said the workshop provides an important opportunity for the FFA Secretariat to work directly with Members and support the implementation of key MCSWG29 meeting outcomes and regional compliance and enforcement initiatives under the RMCSS 2024- 2029.
“The MCS Related Activity Workshop provides a practical platform for the Secretariat to work alongside Members and provide direct technical support on key regional compliance and enforcement initiatives outlined under the FFA RMCSS 2024- 2029. By bringing practitioners together, we can deliver hands-on training, gather feedback and help Members get the most value from the systems and tools that support their national work that aligns with the Strategy.”
“The discussions throughout the week will help determine future improvements to these regional systems while ensuring they continue to meet the operational needs of Members,” Raubani said.
“As fisheries management becomes increasingly digital, it is important that Members are equipped with the tools and knowledge but at the same time get necessary training support needed to make the most of these systems and the information they provide. That collaborative approach is one of the strengths of the Pacific’s regional fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance framework.”
The workshop also reflects a growing interest and investment by FFA Members in the digital systems and technical capacity to support modern fisheries compliance and enforcement. In May, the Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) agreed for Members to make Electronic Reporting (ER) mandatory through fisheries license conditions, marking a significant step towards full regional implementation of digital fisheries reporting systems.
The workshop follows the inaugural MCS Related Activity Workshop held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in 2025 and continues FFA’s efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, information sharing and operational capacity across fisheries compliance and enforcement programmes.
PEUMP II is financed by the European Union ensuring continuity of phase 1 achievements while responding to the region’s renewed priorities and needs.
Phase 2 began in January 2026 with a four-year implementation timeline benefiting 15 countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu…. PACNEWS
SOL – SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
‘Bad Money’ must end, says Finance Minister Lilo
HONIARA, 23 JUNE 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) — Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says the Solomon Islands must break its long-standing cycle of earning wealth only to spend it, warning that unless the country begins saving and investing more wisely, future generations will have little to show for today’s natural resources.
Speaking during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) last week, Lilo outlined his government’s vision to transform the country’s economy by establishing a domestic capital market and a Sovereign Wealth Fund – two reforms he believes will help build lasting national prosperity.
“The Solomon Islands earns a lot of money, but we don’t keep enough of it,” Lilo said.
“Money comes in from logging, fishing licence fees and donor assistance, and then it goes straight back out again,” he added.
“It doesn’t stay here to grow into lasting wealth for our children and grandchildren.”
He described this pattern as “bad money” – income that is quickly spent rather than saved or invested for the future.
“We are going to change that,” he said.
Lilo said one of the government’s priorities is to develop a domestic capital market, allowing Solomon Islanders and local businesses to invest more of their money within the country instead of relying heavily on overseas financing.
A domestic capital market would give businesses greater access to long-term investment and financing beyond traditional bank loans, helping companies expand while reducing the country’s dependence on foreign borrowing.
The finance minister said such a market would play an important role in creating jobs, encouraging local investment and strengthening economic growth.
The second pillar of the government’s strategy is the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Lilo described the fund as a national savings account that would invest part of the country’s revenue from industries such as logging, fisheries and other natural resources for the benefit of future generations.
“The idea is simple,” he said.
“We save some of what the country earns today so that it continues creating wealth tomorrow.”
He stressed that the fund must operate independently of the government’s annual budget and be managed by professional investment managers rather than politicians.
“It cannot become a source of quick cash whenever governments need money,” Lilo said.
He noted that many resource-rich countries have successfully established sovereign wealth funds, adding that what has held Solomon Islands back is not a lack of opportunity, but a lack of political will.
Lilo said the Central Bank is well placed to help implement both reforms because of its experience managing the country’s foreign exchange reserves and maintaining financial stability.
“This Government looks to CBSI as a partner in this work,” he said.
“We will introduce the legislation needed to make these reforms a reality.”
The country’s economy has traditionally relied on logging, fishing licence revenue, agriculture and donor funding to finance government spending.
For decades, logging has been the country’s largest export earner, but economists have repeatedly warned that the industry is operating at unsustainable levels and cannot continue to underpin economic growth indefinitely.
At the same time, the country has limited opportunities for domestic investment, with businesses relying largely on commercial bank lending and government spending to finance growth.
Economists have long argued that developing a domestic capital market and establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund would help diversify the economy, encourage long-term investment and ensure that a greater share of the wealth generated from the country’s natural resources is preserved for future generations rather than consumed in the short term…. PACNEWS
FIJI – TRADE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Fiji seeks deeper trade, investment ties with New Zealand
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Fiji has urged New Zealand businesses to deepen commercial ties and support new investment projects as the government moves to accelerate trade reforms and expand market access.
Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Sakiasi Ditoka, at the opening of the 2026 Joint Conference of the Fiji–New Zealand Business Council and the New Zealand–Fiji Business Council, said the current period of global economic uncertainty also created opportunities for businesses willing to move early.
“The current period of global economic uncertainty also presents significant opportunities for businesses prepared to invest, innovate and build long-term partnerships,” Ditoka said.
He said New Zealand remained one of Fiji’s most important trading and investment partners, with momentum building across tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, services and digital industries.
“Taro remains Fiji’s single largest export to New Zealand, and we are also seeing growing exports of kava, agricultural produce, processed foods, pharmaceuticals, beauty products, garments and industrial goods,” he said.
Ditoka said Fiji wanted more value-added exports and stronger supply chains, and pointed to reforms already under way, including the rollout of the National Single Window System to streamline trade facilitation.
He also pitched a wider investment agenda, saying Fiji was working to make it “a faster, simpler and more transparent place to invest and operate.”
“These investments are creating jobs, transferring skills and contributing to the development of infrastructure and productive capacity that benefits all Fijians.”
The minister identified agribusiness, renewable energy, climate solutions, tourism, aviation services, digital technologies, logistics, education and skills development as priority areas for future Fiji–New Zealand cooperation.
He also urged greater investment in agro-processing, fisheries, manufacturing, and niche exports such as vanilla, cocoa, speciality coffee, and tropical fruits.
The conference brought together business leaders, investors, policymakers, and private-sector representatives from both countries to explore new trade and investment opportunities…. PACNEWS
PAC – BRAIN DRAIN/LAB PROFESSIONALS: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Pacific Lab Professionals meet as brain-drain threatens services
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND BUSINESS) — Medical laboratory scientists have converged in Fiji for a three-day conference aimed at modernising diagnostics and retaining skilled professionals in the face of a critical brain drain affecting the Pacific region.
The Fiji Institute of Medical Laboratory Science (FIMLS) is hosting its annual event with the theme “Partnerships in the Pacific,” drawing speakers and delegates from Australia, New Zealand, and across the Pacific islands.
Keshvi Sukul, President of FIMLS, said the profession once hidden from public view had been thrust into the spotlight by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are here to celebrate the profession, celebrate diagnostics, innovation, and learning,” she said.
This year is the first time that FIMLS will work with the Australian Institute of Medical Laboratory Science’s Tropical Division, alongside continued support from Fiji National University and the New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science.
The institute has also applied for membership with the International Federation of Medical Laboratory Science—a move Sukul said would bring formal global recognition.
“We are getting global recognition,” she said. “It’s our time to shine and bring out to the world what it is that we actually do behind the scenes.”
A real concern, though, is the exodus of experienced scientists seeking better opportunities abroad. Sukul said laboratories operate around the clock under challenging conditions, including during cyclones, and that staff retention has always been a significant hurdle.
“We have a huge migration rate of qualified and experienced scientists that move overseas. We are trying to retain them as much as possible,” Sukul said.
“To have platforms like this where they can see that these things can be available at home, we are really trying to combat the problem.”
She acknowledged that factors such as overtime pay and working conditions influence decisions to leave, calling on the Ministry of Health to work together with FIMLS and find solutions.
The conference features scientific presentations from professors at James Cook University and Queensland Pathology, covering emerging technologies and quality assurance. Despite growing concerns about artificial intelligence replacing laboratory roles, Sukul dismissed the notion.
“You can never replace the expertise, the human touch that we put to diagnosis and the length that we go to support our doctors and clinicians,” she said.
Organisers hope participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the Pacific Laboratory Network and how to work together and support each other in overcoming resource shortages. Sponsors have also funded webinars and talks to ensure learning reaches the widest possible audience.
“The main takeaways from this event are to actually understand how the Pacific Laboratory Network works, how our external quality partners ensure that quality results are put out,” Sukul said.
She added that every hospital patient depends on laboratory results for timely diagnosis and treatment. “For every patient that is admitted to the hospital, the doctor can’t do anything without laboratory results.”
The event runs for three days and it is hoped that it will become an annual milestone for strengthening diagnostic capacity across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
SOL – BUSINESS: ISLAND SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
PM Wale backs indigenous business growth
HONIARA, 23 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND SUN) — Prime Minister Matthew Wale has pledged stronger government support for indigenous businesses and warns against the exploitation of the country’s natural resources, saying Solomon Islands must change course to achieve its goal of becoming a middle-income nation.
Addressing members of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) last week, Prime Minister Wale said both government and the private sector share responsibility for the country’s economic challenges, describing past practices in the forestry sector as damaging to national development.
“The last 40-some years, they’ve reaped and pillaged this country,” Wale said, referring to the exploitation of forest resources.
He said despite decades of logging, the country has little to show for the wealth extracted from its forests.
The Prime Minister also raised concerns about similar practices emerging in the mining sector and said the government is taking policy measures to ensure resource development benefits the nation.
“We are going to be a wealthy middle-income country if we manage the sector well,” he said.
Wale said the government’s vision is to create jobs that pay a living wage and improve opportunities for citizens to save, invest, and own homes.
He also announced plans to introduce policies that will give greater support to indigenous businesses in government procurement processes.
“We are going to introduce bias towards indigenous business. In government procurements, we are going to favour indigenous business,” he said.
Wale stressed that the policy will not discriminate against non-indigenous businesses but instead seek to address existing inequalities faced by local entrepreneurs.
“The policy is to give a fair go because it’s not a level playing field with indigenous business,” he said.
He said that details of the policy are expected to be released in the coming days.
PM Wale expressed confidence in the country’s economic future, saying opportunities for growth remain strong if government, businesses, and other stakeholders work together.
“The future is bright. But of course, we all must collaborate,” Wale said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – FISHERIES: FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Fiji Ministry of Fisheries moves to strengthen marine and aquaculture laws
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY) — In a major step toward strengthening sustainable fisheries resource management, divisional heads and senior officials from the Ministry of Fisheries convened today for a pivotal internal consultation.
The session focused directly on updating and refining the Inshore Fisheries Management Regulations and the Aquaculture Regulations.
Within Fiji’s legislative framework, these specific regulations serve as the critical ‘implementing arm’ of the two Principal Acts – the Inshore Fisheries Bill and the Aquaculture Act 2024.
Very interactive sessions to address the gaps were made.
The strategic session was chaired by Dr Pio Manoa, a highly respected Fijian legal expert and former Deputy Director-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Dr Manoa’s involvement with the Ministry’s direction, underscores a crucial step in aligning the legal instruments on the management and development of Fiji’s Fisheries resources…. PACNEWS
FIJI – FISHERIES: FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Fiji validates new Sea Turtle monitoring protocols and priority maps to bolster marine conservation
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY) — A critical milestone in the protection of Fiji’s marine biodiversity is underway as stakeholders gather for a two-day workshop (22-23 June 2026) to validate the nation’s Draft Sea Turtle Monitoring Protocol and Draft Sea Turtle Priority Maps.
Delivering the opening remarks this morning at the Suva Business Centre, the Ministry of Fisheries, Acting Director Fisheries Nanise Kuridrani emphasised that sea turtles, locally known as vonu, hold immense ecological, cultural, and economic value for Fiji.
“Ecologically, they play a critical role in maintaining healthy seagrass beds, coral reef ecosystems, and overall marine biodiversity,” Kuridrani stated, noting that they are also deeply embedded within iTaukei traditions and customary practices across generations. Furthermore, turtle conservation directly supports sustainable livelihoods, tourism, and the long-term sustainability of Fiji’s fisheries resources.
Despite their significance, Fiji’s sea turtle populations face interconnected, escalating challenges.
Kuridrani highlighted several major threats, including:
* Illegal harvesting and fisheries by-catch
* Habitat degradation driven by coastal development
*The growing impacts of climate change
Because no single entity can address these complex issues alone, Kuridrani stressed that success hinges on coordinated action and shared responsibility at national, regional, and community levels.
Fiji remains guided by the Fisheries Act and Offshore Fisheries Management Regulations, implementing harvesting bans and seasonal protections while ensuring alignment with international obligations like CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The ongoing workshop marks a critical turning point. Over the two-day period, participants are working together to validate the national monitoring protocol, its accompanying Standard Operating Procedures, and the draft sea turtle priority maps.
These new tools are designed to:
*Improve the quality and consistency of data collection regarding sea turtle conservation.
*Strengthen national reporting processes.
*Provide robust, science-based evidence to effectively inform future policy and management decisions.
Kuridrani urged all attendees to actively contribute their technical insights and community experiences, reminding them that the decisions made during this session will shape the foundation of Fiji’s marine ecosystem protections for years to come.
The workshop is being facilitated in partnership with WWF-Pacific…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Aviation talent pipeline: Fiji Link
NADI, 23 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Domestic airline Fiji Link has established itself as the primary launchpad for local aviation talent, propelling a vital manpower pipeline into parent company Fiji Airways as it celebrates a milestone 12 years in the skies.
Data obtained by The Fiji Times from the airline revealed its role had evolved beyond basic island connectivity and has transformed the domestic carrier into a structured corporate incubator.
On the occasion of the airline’s 12th anniversary, Fiji Times has established that 18 local pilots were currently moving through the advanced career pathways within the Fiji Airways group.
Fiji Link executive manager Operations Peter Bale said over the past 24 months, six Fiji Link technical crew members had transitioned directly into Fiji Airways’ widebody international jet operations.
He said 12 Fiji Link trainee First Officers were also currently serving two-year secondments as Cruise Relief pilots.
And showing the cyclical nature of this pipeline, he added two pilots had recently retuned to Fiji Link having completed their Cruise Relief secondments and were in the final stages of completing their type ratings as fully-fledged First Officers.
“These transitions reflect the structured career progression pathways defined for pilots within the Fiji Airways group and demonstrate the group’s commitment to developing local aviation professionals from the ground up, and as a genuine launchpad for Fijian aviation careers – a point of pride for the airline and the broader industry,” Bale told The Fiji Times in an email interview.
This internal progression is backed by an influx of new talent at the entry-level stage.
Bale said the airline continued to work closely with its parent company – Fiji Airways, and the Fiji Airways Aviation Academy to support the TSLS-funded commercial pilot scholarship program.
“At present, 59 sponsored scholarship cadets are training through local flying schools, and upon completion, will commence their airline careers through Fiji Link, strengthening the aviation talent pipeline across the group,” he said.
Meanwhile, since rebranding as Fiji Link in 2014 from Sunflower Airlines in 1980, then to Pacific Sun before Air Pacific acquired it in 2007, the airline has carried more than 3.3 million passengers, which Bale said underscored the airline’s enduring role as a vital connector of communities across Fiji and the Pacific region.
Fiji Link today operates scheduled services to 15 destinations: 11 domestic – Nadi, Suva, Labasa, Taveuni, Savusavu, Kadavu, Rotuma, Lakeba, Vanua Balavu, Cicia and Koro; and four regional ports – Funafuti in Tuvalu, Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Tongatapu and Vava’u in Tonga.
Services to Apia in Samoa and Noumea will commence on 04 July 4 and 22 September this year, respectively…. PACNEWS
FIJI – WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
SPBD Fiji surpasses FJD$150 million in loans to women entrepreneurs
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Fiji has disbursed FJD$50 million (US$25 million) in loans to women entrepreneurs across the country since its 2010 launch.
The achievement was marked by the disbursement of an FJD$10,900 (US$5,450) loan to entrepreneur Sulita Vanabale, which carried the organisation beyond the FJD$150 million (US$75 million) mark.
Speaking at the celebration, SPBD Fiji Managing Director Lorraine Seeto said the milestone represented far more than a financial achievement.
“This achievement is a story of courage, determination, resilience and transformation,” Seeto said.
“It represents thousands of women who dared to dream, who worked tirelessly to build businesses, support their families, educate their children, improve their homes and create brighter futures for their communities.”
SPBD Fiji was established in November 2010 to provide financial services to women with limited access to traditional banking services. Since then, it has grown into Fiji’s largest microfinance institution, serving nearly 8000 members nationwide.
Seeto said the organisation remained committed to empowering women through access to finance, business training, financial literacy programmes and savings initiatives.
“At SPBD, we have always believed that when you empower a woman, you empower a family. When you empower a family, you strengthen a community, and when communities prosper, the nation prospers,” she said.
The milestone was reached through SPBD Fiji’s Nausori Branch, which serves women entrepreneurs in Tailevu and surrounding areas.
Seeto acknowledged the contributions of staff, members and partners across Fiji and the wider Pacific, saying the achievement reflected years of dedication and commitment to improving livelihoods.
The recipient of the milestone loan, Vanabale, joined SPBD in 2023 and received her first loan of FJD$1500 (US$750).
A single mother and baker from Naitasiri, she operates Vanabale Enterprise, producing buns, bread, pizzas, cookies and muffins from her home business in Nadawa, outside Fiji’s capital, Suva.
SPBD officials said Vanabale’s business has grown steadily through hard work, strong savings habits and financial discipline.
Her attendance at centre meetings and commitment to savings have also made her a role model among fellow members.
“Her story represents what SPBD stands for – empowering women to take ownership of their economic future and contribute meaningfully to their families and society,” SPBD said.
Vanabale encouraged other women to take advantage of opportunities available through SPBD, saying nothing is impossible with determination and commitment.
Seeto said the organisation would continue expanding financial inclusion and supporting women entrepreneurs throughout Fiji.
“The FJD$150 million (US$75 million) milestone is not the destination – it is another step in our journey,” she said.
“We will continue to believe in the power of women to transform lives,” she said…. PACNEWS
PNG – SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
PNG Govt to control sovereign wealth fund before GE27
PORT MORESBY, 23 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — The Papua New Guinea Government will fully operate the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) before the General Election 2027, says Rural and Economic Development Minister Joseph Lelang.
Lelang, who is responsible for oversight of SWF, said key government agencies, State-owned entities, industry representatives and development partners met in Port Moresby to participate in stakeholder consultations on the review of the Organic Law on SWF.
SWF was established under the Organic Law on the SWF 2015 following its passage by Parliament.
SWF was designed to ensure revenues generated from PNG’s mineral and petroleum resources contribute to long-term national development and economic stability
“The SWF is an important national institution that will help safeguard our resource revenues, strengthen economic resilience and ensure that the benefits of our natural resources are shared with future generations.”
The consultations will continue as part of the review process aimed at strengthening the Organic Law and establishing an effective SWF framework that reflects international best practice while addressing PNG’s development priorities.
The workshop brings together representatives from the Bank of PNG, Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH), Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited (KMHL), Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL), Internal Revenue Commission (IRC), Department of Treasury, First Legislative Council, Constitutional Law Reform Committee, Association of Superannuation Funds, PNG Reset@50 Unit and other relevant institutions.
The consultations also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to consider international best practice and lessons from other sovereign wealth fund jurisdictions.
Among the participants was Ambassador of Norway to PNG Anne Riise who shared insights from Norway’s experience in managing one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.
Discussions focused on governance standards, transparency, long-term investment strategies and the role sovereign wealth funds play in securing future prosperity…. 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 weather services explore how AI can help improve forecasting
HONIARA, 23 JUNE 2026 (SPREP) — Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how the world forecasts the weather.
Earlier this month in Honiara, the heads and staff of Pacific weather services met for two days to ask a simple question: what can it do for us?
A two-day workshop held on 03-04 June, 2026 helped Pacific weather services understand new tools available that can cut through the confusion, overwhelm and hype surrounding AI learning to make the work of Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs – or hydromet services) faster, easier and more useful, while keeping their data safe.
“Our Pacific weather services do extraordinary work with limited resources. The value of this workshop is that it puts powerful new tools within reach and, just as importantly, it gives our directors the confidence to ask the right questions about how those tools are used,” said ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, WRP Programme Manager of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“AI should serve the Pacific, not the other way around. It can’t replace our experienced forecasters that know the local land, seasons and community. It can, however, support our small Met teams and this training helped bridge this gap between AI and our Pacific Met teams.”
The hands-on session was an introductory session tailored Pacific Met and Weather Services.
Participants were taught how to tools that can read huge amounts of data in seconds, sharpen short-range forecasts, and help fill gaps where there are few observations, a real problem in a region as large and data-poor as the Pacific. AI can help support earlier warnings, faster decisions, and better information for the fishers, farmers and families who rely on these.
‘We recognise the benefits and capability of AI technology in meteorological services,” said Alick Haruhiru, Director of Solomon Islands Meteorological Service.
“But we also need to be sure that any tool or emerging technology we adopt, protects our data and keeps us in control of it. Our people, community, and stakeholders place trust on us and we must maintain that. Getting that right is what will let us embrace AI with confidence rather than caution.”
A theme that stood out over the two days was the safe and responsible use of data. Data sovereignty is a key issue when it comes to weather and climate information. Participants learnt about the safeguards in place to ensure secure systems to protect sensitive information when using AI.
Having completed the two-day training, participants can now grow their new skills to use these tools safely, helping to apply new and innovative approaches across their work.
The two-day workshop was co-facilitated by Tomorrow.io, Varysian and SPREP through its Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Programme to strengthen forecasting and early warning systems across Pacific Island countries and territories…. PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Global Leaders announce $6.4 billion for Ocean Action at first African Our Ocean Conference
MOMBASA, 23 JUNE 2026 (OUR OCEANSKENYA) — Over 100 governments, businesses and civil society organisations announced 320 new commitments valued at US$6.4 billion to advance ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience and the blue economy at the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, which concluded last Friday in Mombasa, Kenya.
The conference marked a historic milestone as the first Our Ocean Conference hosted in Africa, underscoring the continent’s growing leadership in global ocean governance and sustainable ocean development.
The Our Ocean Conference has become one of the world’s leading platforms for ocean action, translating policy ambitions into measurable commitments, investments and partnerships.
Major announcements from this year’s conference included:
* Kenya committed US$200 million to install electronic monitoring to all industrial fishing vessels in its waters.
*French Polynesia announced plans to strengthen protections within the Tainui Atea, the world’s largest marine protected area, through more than 27,000 square kilometers of new regulated fishing areas, coastal protection zones and seamount protections.
*Canada committed US$682 million to the Small Crafts Harbours Program to support coastal and rural communities, fishing activity and local economies
*The World Bank Group announced plans to invest US$1 billion over the next two years to help developing countries build sustainable and resilient blue economies.
Africa’s role in the global ocean agenda has expanded rapidly in recent years. Home to 38 coastal and island states and more than 13 million square kilometers of exclusive economic zones, the continent has a significant stake in the future of ocean health and the blue economy.
“This conference is about turning words into commitments, commitments into action, and action into a legacy we can be proud of,” said Hassan Ali Joho, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy.
The conference brought together over 5,000 participants, including heads of state, ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, youth representatives, business executives and civil society organisations. Its programme featured leadership plenaries, high-level thematic panels, official side events, exhibitions, community and cultural events, an Executive Business and Investment Forum, a Youth Leadership Summit and a Research Symposium.
Youth engagement featured prominently throughout the conference. Held in parallel with the main event, the OOC11 Youth Leadership Summit convened young innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs and activists from across Kenya and beyond to showcase solutions for ocean conservation and sustainable development.
Among the featured events was Youth and the Global Biodiversity Framework: Showcasing Youth-Led Restoration in Kenya to Advance Global Biodiversity Framework Implementation, highlighting youth organisations restoring mangroves and other coastal wetlands to strengthen climate resilience, support local livelihoods and advance Kenya’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Organizers emphasised the critical role of young people in driving ocean solutions at a time when more than 70 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 35.
Beyond generating new commitments, the Our Ocean Conference serves as a mechanism for tracking progress and accountability. The World Resources Institute (WRI), Secretariat of the Our Ocean Conference, analyzed progress on commitments in Africa since the conference began in 2014. Data found that approximately 78 percent of commitments are complete or in progress – and while many historically originated outside the continent, the 2026 conference highlighted a growing shift toward African-led solutions, financing and implementation.
“Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, with more than 400 million people between the ages of 15 and 35,” said Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director, Africa and Global Partnerships, World Resources Institute.
“For many young Africans, the ocean is not simply an environmental issue. It is a source of jobs, food security and economic opportunity. The commitments announced in Mombasa demonstrate growing recognition that investing in ocean health is investing in Africa’s future.”
Many commitments focused on priorities central to Africa’s development, including sustainable fisheries, blue carbon initiatives, marine conservation and efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which is estimated to cost African economies between US$11 billion and US$13 billion annually.
As host nation, Kenya announced approximately 42 commitments worth an estimated $1 billion, including actions to expand marine protected areas, strengthen fisheries monitoring, mobilise climate finance and advance a sustainable blue economy.
Kenya has emerged as a leading voice on ocean issues as a founding member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, host of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and an advocate for ambitious action on marine pollution and ocean sustainability.
Selected 2026 Commitment Highlights
Overall total for OOC commitment mobilisation since 2014 to 3,220 commitments valued US$175.6 billion.
The Secretariat published two reports analyzing progress made on commitments made prior to OOC11, including an analysis of the commitment implementation in the past year, and a commitment implementation in Africa between 2014 and 2026….PACNEWS
Read the full outcome report https://ouroceankenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/OUR-OCEAN-COMMITMENTS-REPORT_JUNE-2026.pdf
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Reclaiming the conversation: what the Pleasurenesia guide means for youth
By Uate Tamanikaiyaroi
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — This year, a group of Pacific young people published a guide to talking about pleasure. They called it Pleasurenesia — a play on the colonial labels Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia, terms outsiders coined to organise a region that had never asked to be organised. By folding “pleasure” into that geography, Youth OCEANS, the regional youth-led network of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, made a pointed claim: conversations about pleasure, sexuality and wellbeing in the Pacific should be shaped by Pacific people, for Pacific people.
Pleasurenesia is a facilitation resource that deserves attention from development practitioners, donors and policymakers working on Pacific health and rights. Its argument — that comprehensive sexuality education has failed Pacific young people because it was built on the wrong foundations, not just because it left pleasures out — matters for how we design and fund youth SRHR programming in the region.
The numbers are stark. Teenage pregnancy rates in parts of the Pacific run two to three times higher than global averages. In Fiji, 858 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2024, nearly double the previous year. HIV infections among young people aged 15 to 29 are rising. Gender-based violence rates sit at 60 to 70 percent in Papua New Guinea, 64 percent in Fiji and 60% in Vanuatu. Contraceptive access remains unequal, with unmet need in rural and outer island communities at 40 to 60 percent.
These statistics should drive programming decisions. The Pleasurenesia guide asks why existing interventions have not shifted them.
In co-design sessions and key informant interviews, young people across the Pacific told Youth OCEANS that most SRHR resources felt imported, clinical and disconnected from how they actually understood relationships, bodies and wellbeing. The language was too formal or too explicit. The examples ignored Pacific cultural structures and faith contexts. The focus sat almost entirely on avoiding risk, leaving no room for the conversations young people were already having about feelings, attraction, comfort and connection.
This is a structural problem. When young people say condoms reduce comfort or feeling, and education programs do not acknowledge that, it becomes a real reason condom are not used consistently. When conversations about relationships focus only on preventing harm, young people are left without the language to recognise healthy dynamics, communicate boundaries or understand consent in relational terms.
Pleasurenesia treats pleasure as the foundation on which adjacent conversations — consent, communication, bodily autonomy, safe relationships — can happen, rather than as a sensitive add-on to risk messaging. The guide’s seven Pleasurenesia Principles (Love Yourself, Embrace Learning, Talk Openly, Be Flexible, Think Universal, Rights First, Be Positive), adapted from IPPF’s regional Talking Pleasure with Ease framework, are arranged visually around a woven mat — a Pacific reference to interconnection and collective meaning. No principle stands alone. None requires a particular entry point.
That non-linearity is one of the guide’s most practical contributions. Co-design participants were explicit that conversations about sexuality in Pacific communities develop gradually and indirectly, through storytelling, humour, shared reference and relational trust rather than a structured curriculum. The guide’s facilitation tools, including a detailed talanoa session outline and a structured conversation guide, work with that reality rather than against it. They provide entry points through familiar values like respect, care and wellbeing, and give facilitators ways to read the room, hold silence and adjust based on group readiness rather than a fixed session plan.
The decolonising argument running through the guide is worth taking seriously as a policy position. The historical chapter documents how Pacific traditions of open, gradual, relationally embedded learning about bodies and relationships were disrupted by colonial governance and Christian missionisation, which introduced shame, silence and risk-framing as the dominant lens on sexuality. That history helps explain why externally developed, prevention-focused, clinically framed materials still land poorly in Pacific communities: they sit in the same lineage as the frameworks that created the silence to begin with.
The guide does not argue that cultural values should be bypassed in the name of rights. It argues something more careful: that the values Pacific communities already hold — care, responsibility, dignity, relational accountability — are compatible with pleasure-centred, rights-based sexuality education, provided those approaches are genuinely adapted to local language, leadership and context rather than translated in from elsewhere.
For practitioners and donors, that distinction matters. Funding Pacific youth SRHR curriculum development without equivalent investment in community consultation, youth co-design and facilitator preparation will not shift the numbers. Pleasurenesia is one model of what that investment can produce. It drew on key informant interviews across ten countries, co-design with Youth OCEANS members and Member Association representatives, and sustained attention to inclusion — engaging young people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, those living with disability, and youth from smaller countries and outer island communities.
The result is not a universal curriculum. It is a flexible framework, and the guide is explicit that it should be adapted rather than replicated. That flexibility is a feature, not a hedge. The Pacific is not one context, and effective SRHR programming should not treat it as one.
What the Pleasurenesia guide shows is that Pacific young people have both the analysis and the tools to lead this work. The question for those of us funding and designing the broader system is whether we are investing accordingly…. PACNEWS
Disclosure: The guide was developed under IPPF’s Advancing the Sexuality Agenda and Shifting Norms in the Pacific program, funded under the Australian Government’s Pacific Women Lead initiative and by the New Zealand Government.
