In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — As Pacific nations queue for petrol, ministers gather to chart a fossil-fuel-free future
2. TONGA — Convicted Tongan Finance Minister still active as PM’s Office welcomes TOP$42,500 payout
3. TUVALU — Microplastics found in fish in Tuvalu
4. UN — Security Council: Russia and China veto resolution on Strait of Hormuz
5. PALAU — New MOU aims to transform broadcast Journalism in Palau
6. PACNEWS BIZ — Palau President Whipps rejects US$60M Malakal Port appraisal as ‘bogus,’ stalling negotiations
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Flights rescheduled as adverse weather disrupts Fiji Airways operations
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Pentecost has potential for 10 million kava plants
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fined fishing vessels to be removed from Vanuatu Registry, VISR confirms
10. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG National Fisheries Authority committed to assisting fish farmers, official says
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — Monitoring and evaluating effective Marine spatial planning in the Cook Islands
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — The great convergence: One Health tackles complex health challenges in the Western Pacific Region
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Decisions Made Today
PAC – FOSSIL FUEL: FOSSIL FUEL TREATY PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Apr 2026
As Pacific nations queue for petrol, ministers gather to chart a fossil-fuel-free future
SYDNEY/PORT VILA, 08 APRIL 2026(FOSSIL FUEL TREATY) —As Pacific nations scramble to secure fuel supplies amid the Iran war — with Fiji hiking petrol prices by 20 percent, Tuvalu sending government workers home and the Marshall Islands declaring a 90-day economic emergency — ministers from across the region are convening in Vanuatu to do something about the fossil fuel dependency at the heart of the crisis.
Ministers and senior officials from Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) will convene in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 13–15 April for the third Pacific Ministerial Dialogue on the Global Just Transition – a landmark gathering that will shape the Pacific’s unified position ahead of the world’s first international conference dedicated to phasing out fossil fuels.
This engagement began in Port Vila in March 2023, following two devastating Category-4 cyclones in Vanuatu. There, PSIDS articulated a collective vision for a Fossil Fuel-Free Pacific and elevated the global call for a managed phase-out of fossil fuels.
PSIDS are now returning to Port Vila for this preparatory summit, Port Vila II, ahead of the First International Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia later this month – a historic milestone they were central in bringing about, and will be crucial in taking forward.
Port Vila II aims to consolidate a unified Pacific stance on fossil fuel phase-out, build momentum for full region-wide support of the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal and establish a PSIDS Inter-Governmental Taskforce to lead regional engagement in the coming negotiation phase.
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Government of Vanuatu said “The Pacific did not create the fossil fuel crisis, yet we are paying the highest price for it. Our communities are on the frontlines of sea level rise, intensifying cyclones, and the slow erasure of the only homes we have ever known. Port Vila II is about ensuring our voice doesn’t just get heard at Santa Marta—it must shape what happens there. It serves as a powerful reminder of what we have achieved and what we can achieve when we stand up for the survival of our people.”
The Santa Marta Conference represents a defining moment in global climate diplomacy — and one that Australia, as a major fossil fuel exporter and a near neighbour to the Pacific, cannot afford to sit out. While Pacific nations have led efforts to build a multilateral framework for a managed global transition away from fossil fuels, Australia has continued to approve new coal and gas projects; a contradiction that Pacific leaders say is incompatible with the commitments of a genuine partner.
Joseph Sikulu, Pacific Champion for the Fossil Fuel Treaty said “For Pacific Islands, leading on Climate has never been a choice; it has been a matter of survival for us. We are constantly at the forefront pushing for ambition and testing the limits of multilateralism. We were the first to call for a fossil fuel treaty, knowing we need to try everything we can to bring about the transformation we need. Our hope is that we are joined by partners who are ready to take accountability for their actions and help us accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. The Santa Marta Conference is an opportunity for Australia, our big brother nation in the Pacific, to show up for the future of the region and to show us they are ready to lead on climate alongside us.”
With Australia to be president of negotiations at COP31 in 2026, the Santa Marta Conference represents an important moment for the region — and an opportunity for Australia to demonstrate genuine partnership with its Pacific neighbours on the defining issue of our time.
Dr Tzeporah Berman, Founder and Chair, Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative said “Pacific Island Nations were the first countries to call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty. Even before the current supply constraints and high price of oil due to the war in Iran these countries have understood the threat dependence on fossil fuels poses to their security and to global climate stability. The current conflict has proven that even more so It is an honour for us to support their leadership as they prepare for the first diplomatic conference on fossil fuel phase out in Santa Marta where they and other countries participating in the development of the Fossil Fuel Treaty will be a crucial voice for international cooperation, high ambition and fair timelines and financial mechanisms to support a fair phase out.” …. PACNEWS
TONGA – CONVICTED MINISTER: KANIVA TONGA NEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Apr 2026
Convicted Tongan Finance Minister still active as PM’s Office welcomes TOP$42,500 payout
NUKU’ALOFA, 08 APRIL 2026 (KANIVA TONGA NEWS)—-Two weeks after the Supreme Court convicted Tonga’s Finance Minister of electoral bribery, the Prime Minister appears to continue to work alongside him, despite the ruling.
In a judgment delivered on 24 March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that Lata ‘i Faingata’a Tangimana had committed two acts of bribery during the lead‑up to the 20 November 2025 general election for the Ongo Niua 17 constituency, in breach of section 21 of the Electoral Act.
The court found beyond reasonable doubt that Tangimana, acting indirectly through another person on his behalf, provided valuable gifts of fish to two electors in September 2025, within three months of the election, for the purpose of inducing them to vote.
Justice Garlick KC accepted evidence that the fish were delivered with an explicit request to “remember” Tangimana at the election and rejected the defence claim that the gifts were acts of personal generosity.
The judgment stated that the statutory presumption of bribery applied and had not been rebutted by the respondent.
As a result, the court declared Tangimana’s election void and ordered that its determination be certified in writing to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, formally unseating him as a Member of Parliament.
Section 9 of Tonga’s Electoral Act states:“It shall be unlawful to use threatening language or bribery for the purpose of obtaining votes or of influencing electors in their votes, and any person found guilty of such offence shall, upon conviction, be punished in accordance with the law relating to bribery. Where the offender is a member of the Legislative Assembly, that member shall be unseated, and it shall be lawful for the Minister of Police to prosecute all parties concerned in the offence.”
“Threats and Bribery” – Clause 66 of the Constitution states that:“Any person elected as a representative who is proved, to the satisfaction of the Assembly, to have used threats or offered bribes for the purpose of persuading any person to vote for him shall be unseated by the Assembly.”
Despite the ruling, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office shows Tangimana continuing to participate in official government activity.
Photographs released with the statement show Tangimana either standing alongside Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua or seated beside Ministry of Finance CEO Kilisitina Tuaimei’api.
In one image, Tangimana is seen posing with the Prime Minister and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) ‘Aholotu Palu as the TOP 42,500(US$17, 700) insurance payout cheque is displayed.
The statement avoided naming Tangimana and did not elaborate on his role in the insurance payout….PACNEWS
TUVALU – MICROPLASTICS: MONGABAY PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Apr 2026
Microplastics found in fish in Tuvalu
FUNAFUTI, 08 APRIL 2026 (MONGABAY)—Tuvalu is a remote Polynesian nation made up of three reef islands and six atolls.
Home to fewer than 11,000 people, Tuvalu is 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) from its nearest neighbor in Fiji. Yet dispite its isolation and small population, new research shows that the ocean ecosystems around Tuvalu are polluted with microplastics.
A team of researchers collected 201 individual fish from 44 species around Funafuti Atoll, the capital of Tuvalu. They removed the gastrointestinal tracts of the fish and tested them for the presence of microplastics — plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches).
Of the 201 fish sampled, researchers found microplastics in 75 individuals (37.3 percent). Fish from more developed areas of the world have been found to contain much higher rates of pollution; one study from the U.S. West Coast found 99 percent of fish were polluted with tiny bits of plastic.
These microplastic particles often originate indirectly from the breakdown of plastic debris and directly from personal care products and industrial chemicals.
Frequently transported by rivers, once microplastics arrive in oceans, they easily disperse throughout ocean ecosystems and bioaccumulate in food webs. When fish ingest microplastics, the particles accumulate in their gastrointestinal systems where they can cause internal damage to organs and affect reproduction, behavior and metabolism, the study notes.
Scientists have found microplastic everywhere they’ve looked, Margaret Spring, chief science and conservation officer of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, not involved with the study, told Mongabay in an email.
“From the highest mountains and inland lakes and rivers to the ocean’s surface to the seafloor, as well as in our food and drinking water we are finding microplastics and nanoplastics,” Spring said.
Microplastics have already been found throughout human bodies, including in brains and placentas, raising serious concerns for human health. That’s a particular worry for South Pacific nations like Tuvalu, which depend on the sea for their diet.
Amanda Ford, a member of the research team, said in Science Daily, “While microplastic levels in Pacific fish are generally lower than in many industrialized regions, Pacific communities rely far more heavily on fish as a primary protein source.”
Small islands like Tuvalu are vulnerable in many ways.
“Small island states are uniquely and disproportionately affected by the endless flow of plastics and related pollution. They are also heavily reliant upon seafood for both sustenance and livelihoods. The discovery of microplastics in fish around Tuvalu confirms the urgency of the call to end plastic pollution, starting at the source,” Spring said….PACNEWS
UN – DIPLOMACY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Apr 2026
Security Council: Russia and China veto resolution on Strait of Hormuz
NEW YORK, 08 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Eleven countries voted in favour of the draft, which was vetoed by permanent members China and Russia while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.
The draft resolution sought to strongly encourage States interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz – which lies between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates – and to “coordinate efforts” defensively, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation there, including the use of escorts for merchant and commercial vessels.
The draft also demanded that Iran immediately cease all attacks on shipping and any attempt to impede transit or freedom of navigation in the strait.
The text was submitted by Bahrain alongside Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking after the vote, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani expressed regret on their behalf.
“The Council failed to shoulder its responsibility in relation to an illegal conduct that requires decisive action with no delay,” he said.
“Failing to adopt this resolution sends the wrong signal to the world, to the peoples of the world, the signal that the threat to international waterways can pass without any decisive action by the international organisation responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.”
United States Ambassador Mike Waltz said that his country stands with Bahrain and the people of the Gulf “at this moment of reckoning.”
He told the Council that 47 years ago, the Iranian regime’s first act was to take dozens of Americans hostage.
“Now it’s taking the Strait of Hormuz hostage, and with it, attempting to take the world’s economy hostage. Well, colleagues, that may be its last act. We’ll see,” he said.
He stressed that “the Strait of Hormuz is too vital to the world to be used as hostage, to be choked, to be weaponised by any one State.”
Explaining Russia’s vote, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that the resolution presented Iranian actions as the sole source of regional tensions while illegal attacks by the United States and Israel were “not mentioned at all”.
Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong said the draft “failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner.”
He expressed hope that peace and stability would be restored and affirmed China’s commitment to addressing the situation properly by tackling the root causes.
Iran’s Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the draft sought “to punish the victim for defending its sovereignty and vital national interests in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, while providing political and legal cover for further unlawful acts by the aggressors.”
Fifteen countries sit on the UN Security Council whose five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – have the right of veto any resolution or decision.
The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the UN General Assembly and serve for two-year terms. …PACNEWS
PALAU – MEDIA: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Wed 08 Apr 2026
New MOU aims to transform broadcast Journalism in Palau
KOROR, 08 APRIL 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —A new agreement between Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) and the Palau Media Council aims to strengthen broadcast journalism in Palau by transferring equipment and expanding training opportunities.
Building on the success of the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, the initiative could reshape how local stories are told.
“This MOU formalises a commitment we envisioned during the 2025 Mini Games and supports future planning for a stronger, more accountable media sector,” said Frank Kyota, as the Palau National Olympic Committee and the Palau Media Council signed an agreement to expand broadcast media capacity.
The memorandum of understanding transfers broadcast equipment from PNOC and the Australian government to the Palau Media Council, aiming to strengthen local media production and training.
The agreement builds on media training and coverage efforts during the Pacific Mini Games 2025, where a joint team of young reporters and experienced media professionals delivered daily highlights over the nine-day event, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
“We’re really heartened by the investment that we made here with the Palau Media Council for the Pacific Mini Games,” said Toby Sharpe.
“The media’s impact on that success couldn’t be understated. The programs shared across the region helped showcase Palau and demonstrated how professional the media sector here is.”
Following that success, the Palau Media Council partnered with PNOC and Palau Community College, with support from Australia’s Media Support Fund, to establish a media training centre focused on building skills in broadcast journalism.
“This equipment and training will help increase both the quantity and quality of content produced,” said Leilani Reklai, President of Palau Media Council.
“That includes public interest reporting, sports coverage and stories that have not been covered before.”
The initiative is expected to expand opportunities for local journalists while improving access to timely and reliable information for the public…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PALAU – PORT PROJECT: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Apr 2026
Palau President Whipps rejects US$60M Malakal Port appraisal as ‘bogus,’ stalling negotiations
KOROR, 08 APRIL 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —A sharp dispute over the value of Malakal Port in Palau is threatening to derail a major national project tied to U.S military expansion.
With a US$45 million gap between appraisals, can Palau’s national government and Koror State find common ground—or is a forced takeover looming?
“The US$60 million appraisal is bogus,” President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. said, as negotiations between the national government and the Koror State Government over the proposed purchase of Malakal Port stalled over sharply differing valuations.
The dispute centres on the national government’s push to acquire the port for US$15 million, far below the US$60 million valuation commissioned by Koror State.
The acquisition is a key step in a broader plan to expand and upgrade Malakal Port for joint use by the Republic of Palau and the United States military. Under the proposal, the national government would purchase the port from Koror State and then transfer it to the U.S military for improvements and shared operations.
Koror State hired an independent appraiser, which placed the port’s value at US$60 million. During an 02 April meeting between Koror State’s elected and traditional leaders and national officials, Whipps publicly rejected that figure, questioning its credibility.
Port appraisals typically consider factors such as structural integrity, operational capacity and strategic importance. For Malakal Port, this includes its role as the country’s primary gateway for goods, the condition of its wharf, vessel draft depth, storage capacity, and the impact of planned upgrades such as dredging and new bulkheads.
Koror State currently leases the port, generating about US$300,000 annually. Officials note that the facility has seen no major recent upgrades and that assessments indicate aging infrastructure requiring significant repairs.
Still, many Koror State residents voiced frustration at the national government’s lower valuation during the meeting. While the proposed US$15 million represents a one-time purchase price, the current arrangement allows the state to retain ownership and receive steady rental income.
In an effort to bridge the gap, Koror State leaders suggested alternatives, including increasing the state’s annual block grant by US$300,000 in addition to any purchase payment.
If negotiations fail, the national government could pursue eminent domain to acquire the port at its proposed value. Another round of talks is scheduled for later this week….PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Apr 2026
Flights rescheduled as adverse weather disrupts Fiji Airways operations
NADI, 08 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Airways and Fiji Link have rescheduled several international flights scheduled for 08 April 2026, as adverse weather conditions linked to the current tropical system continue to impact operations across the region.
The airline said ongoing weather conditions have resulted in a number of flight cancellations and further schedule adjustments, with more changes possible as the situation evolves.
Passengers are being urged to ensure their contact details are updated through the airline’s “Manage My Booking” platform to receive timely notifications.
Fiji Airways has also provided flexibility for affected travellers. Guests may defer travel without incurring change fees or fare differences for travel up to 30 April 2026. For travel from 01 May onwards, change fees will be waived, although fare differences may apply. All travel must be completed by 31 May 2026.
The airline noted that onboard services may also be affected, with possible changes to standard meal offerings due to operational disruptions.
Passengers seeking assistance are encouraged to contact Fiji Airways’ reservations team via its website, though longer wait times are expected due to high call volumes.
Fiji Airways said it continues to closely monitor weather conditions and will adjust operations as necessary, emphasising that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority….PACNEWW
VAN – KAVA INDUSTRY: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Apr 2026
Pentecost has potential for 10 million kava plants
PORT VILA, 08 APRIL 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) —- Vanuatu chief Derick Leona, a kava buyer on Pentecost, says the island has the potential to reach the government target of 10 million kava plants by 2030.
Speaking to the Daily Post last Thursday while drying kava for export, he said farmers on the island have the knowledge and experience to meet the government program under the Ministry of Agriculture, but more feeder roads are needed.
Chief Leona estimates that Pentecost may already have 10 million kava plants. However, there is a lack of reliable data to confirm how many plants are in gardens and how many are harvested daily and weekly for local and international markets.
“To maintain supply and meet demand, the government must build more feeder roads to connect the west and east of the island,” he said.
Currently, the only feeder roads to the western side of Pentecost are at Satin Bay in the north and Ranwas in the south.
The eastern side has fertile land with high potential for kava cultivation compared to the already populated west. Transporting the product to the west remains a challenge. The only alternative is by sea, but ships service this part of the island only during good weather. Chief Leona said the road linking Central Pentecost 1 to the north is in poor condition.
He welcomed plans for road infrastructure, including tar-sealed roads, but said feeder roads remain the priority for kava farmers.
Chief Leona also raised concerns about Ni-Vanuatu sent to seasonal work programs in Australia and New Zealand. The chief said these citizens are sent to work on lands that are not theirs, and it would be better for them to develop their own land to realise its true value.
“It is good that Vanuatu nationals are sent abroad, but they must return to develop their own lands,” he said.
Chief Leona said the seasonal work program is contributing to the reduction of kava farmers on the island….PACNEWS
VAN – SHIPPING: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Apr 2026
Fined fishing vessels to be removed from Vanuatu Registry, VISR confirms
PORT VILA, 08 APRIL 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST)–The Vanuatu International Shipping Registry (VISR) has confirmed that three fishing vessels — Bao Feng, Hai Xing 2, and Bao Win — previously registered under the Vanuatu flag and recently fined by Argentina for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the South Atlantic, are being removed from the national registry.
VISR Administrator Saade Makhlouf clarified that the vessels were registered under Vanuatu, but the approvals for their construction and registration were issued by the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) on 06 June 2024, before the current administration assumed responsibility for the registry in October 2024.
“Following these incidents, the Administration took a clear position that vessels creating repeated regulatory and reputational risk should not remain under the Vanuatu flag. A decision was made to proceed with their deletion, and the competent fisheries authority has recently issued approval for their deregistration,” Makhlouf said.
According to marine traffic records, Hai Xing 2 is a fishing vessel measuring 58.88 meters in length with a 12-meter beam and a gross tonnage of 737 DWT. Bao Win (IMO 1127166), built in 2025, measures 59 metres long with a 12-meter beam and a summer deadweight capacity of 696 tonnes. Bao Win is currently operating in the South Atlantic Open Water, according to recent AIS tracking data. Specifications for Bao Feng are still being confirmed.
Makhlouf emphasised that VISR does not operate the national Vessel Monitoring System, which remains under the VFD. “However, because incidents involving fishing vessels can directly impact the reputation of the Vanuatu flag, VISR has taken steps to strengthen oversight on the registry side,” he said.
Since assuming responsibility, VISR has introduced multiple measures, including zero-tolerance circulars for IUU fishing, mandatory disclosure of ultimate beneficial ownership from operators, 24-hour incident reporting, and pre-approval mechanisms requiring registry clearance before Fisheries approves new fishing vessels. VISR also maintains 24/7 oversight of flagged vessels and enforces compliance under the 2025 amendments to the Maritime Act, which empowered the Maritime Administrator to issue binding policies and administrative actions.
“The current administration inherited a system requiring significant strengthening and has acted decisively,” said Makhlouf. “Vanuatu takes IUU risks seriously, and vessels exposing the flag to repeated regulatory or reputational risk will not be allowed to remain under the registry.”…PACNEWS
PNG – FISHERIES: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 08 Apr 2026
PNG National Fisheries Authority committed to assisting fish farmers, official says
PORT MORESBY, 08 APRIL 2026 (THE NATIONAL)–The Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is committed to supporting farmers through technical assistance, capacity building, and market access, says managing director Justin Ilakini.
“Our focus is to ensure that farmers are equipped not only to produce, but to participate effectively in the market system,” he said.
Ilakini said that the support included improvement to farming practices, strengthening supply chains, and creating reliable market opportunities.
He was at the launching of the Sirinumu commercial tilapia harvest programme.
The event included farm visits, a harvest demonstration, and an engagement with farmers who have been directly involved in the programme.
The initiative highlights the successful transition of smallholder fish farmers into semi-commercial and commercial production, demonstrating the growing potential of inland fisheries to contribute to food security, income generation, and rural economic development.
“The programme represents a major step forward in strengthening aquaculture value chains in the country,” Ilakini said.
“Today’s launch is a clear demonstration of how targeted support and partnerships can empower our local farmers to move from subsistence to commercial production.
“The Sirinumu initiative shows that inland aquaculture has the potential to significantly contribute to food security while creating sustainable livelihoods for our communities.”
Ilakini acknowledged the role of local communities and stakeholders in driving the success of the project.
He said that the achievement belonged to the farmers and communities of Sirinumu.
He added that their commitment and willingness to adopt improved practices was what makes programmes like this successful. …PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Monitoring and evaluating effective Marine spatial planning in the Cook Islands
RAROTONGA, 08 APRIL 2026 (SPREP)— “The Cook Islands is an ocean nation. Our marine environment supports our livelihoods, food security, culture, and economy. Through marine spatial planning, we are working to ensure that the different uses of our ocean, whether conservation, fisheries, tourism, or other emerging sectors—are managed in a balanced and sustainable way.”
Those words from Elizabeth Munro, Officer in Charge of the Cook Islands National Environment Service set the background context for a national workshop held recently in Cook Islands on monitoring the effectiveness and impact of their national marine spatial planning (MSP) process.
The main objective of the two-day workshop for Cook Islands was to consult with key stakeholders and actively co-develop a suite of climate and biodiversity-aligned MSP indicators, tailored to national circumstances, for monitoring and assessing how effective the national MSP process has been.
“However, planning alone is not enough,” added Munro. “We also need to be able to measure our progress. Over the next two days, we will focus on co-developing clear and practical indicators that align with the Marae Moana framework, that can be realistically monitored within our national systems.”
The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Cook Islands, covering approximately 1.9 million square kilometres of the South Pacific Ocean, is of critical national importance, serving as the foundation for the country’s economic future, environmental management, and sovereignty.
The government has declared this entire area as a multi-use marine park, known as Marae Moana, which is a pioneering “whole-of-ocean” marine management initiative formalised in 2017, through the Marae Moana Act.
The workshop is an output of a partnership between the Government of the Cook Islands, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Government of New Zealand. It is supported by the New Zealand-funded Climate and Biodiversity-Smart Marine Spatial Planning (CaB-Smart MSP) Programme, implemented by SPREP.
Over the two-day period, participants actively engaged in confirming national marine spatial planning priorities and acquired a shared understanding of MSP indicators – their purpose and role in tracking progress and their value in supporting improved governance, transparency, and enabling evidence-based decision-making. The gathering facilitated the open sharing of ideas, interactive discussion and practical group work, where participants evaluated potential indicators against a set of prioritisation criteria to determine whether they were relevant, realistic and fit-for-purpose.
“We, Cook Islanders have a significant calling and responsibility as indigenous guardians of the vast expanse of our ocean, on which our cultural heritage and livelihoods depend,” said Liam Kokaua of the Korero o Te ‘Orau, a local Environmental NGO.
“Marine Spatial Planning is underpinned by an integrated, inclusive and participatory process and therefore must demonstrate its effectiveness in incorporating livelihoods, culture, and community needs if it is to be considered successful, equitable, and sustainable. Thus, I am happy to have participated in the workshop this week and contributed to co-developing MSP indicators to provide the evidence needed to verify how well the MSP process has done this and what gaps remain.”
The workshop engaged a total of 22 participants from across key national agencies and NGOs including the Cook Islands National Environment Service, Ministry of Marine Resources, Infrastructure Cook Islands, Emergency Management Cook Islands, Cook Islands National Council of Women, Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Te Ipukarea Society and Korero o Te ‘Orau.
The co-developed indicators will align with Cook Islands’ MSP objectives and policy frameworks, specifically the Marae Moana Policy and Act as well as broader national priorities around marine conservation and ocean management. These indicators will contribute to relevant national reporting obligations, including the national State of Environment reporting process for Cook Islands.
The national Climate and Biodiversity Smart MSP Indicators Co-Development Workshop for Cook Islands was held from 24-26 March 2026, facilitated by BMT Commercial Australia Pty Ltd, under contract to SPREP and was made possible through the Climate and Biodiversity-Smart Marine Spatial Planning Programme (CaB-Smart MSP), funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The CaB-Smart MSP Programme underscores New Zealand’s commitment to assist Pacific Island nations in addressing and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change, it is part of New Zealand’s broader International Climate Finance Strategy and aims to bolster the capabilities and capacities of Pacific Island countries to lead tailored approaches to marine spatial planning and marine protection. These approaches are designed to enhance marine conservation efforts, balance economic and conservation objectives, and fortify resilience against the adverse impacts of climate change.
SPREP leads on two multi-country components of the programme, which have a specific focus on strengthening understanding of how Traditional Knowledge and customary practice work alongside marine spatial planning and developing country-specific climate and biodiversity-relevant marine spatial planning indicators. Implementation of the Programme is being closely coordinated with regional partners including The Pacific Community (SPC) and aligns with and contributes to key regional frameworks such as the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Framework for a Pacific Oceanscape and the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy….PACNEWS
For more information on the CaB-Smart MSP Programme, please contact Vainuupo Jungblut Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Adviser vainuupoj@sprep.org and/or Mr. Patea Setefano, CaB Smart MSP Programme Coordinator patea.ext@sprep.org
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The great convergence: One Health tackles complex health challenges in the Western Pacific region
MANILA, 08 APRIL 2026 (WHO)—Experts in human health, animal health, food systems and ecology have long worked in silos. But the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside outbreaks of avian influenza, dengue, leptospirosis, and mpox – to name but a handful of global public health crises – drove home the urgency of collaborating across sectors.
We are living in an era of spillover.
Roughly 75 percent of all emerging infectious diseases in humans now originate in animals, causing over 2.7 million deaths each year.
In 2025, Pacific island countries and areas reported the highest number of dengue cases in a decade – an increase attributed to climate change and shifting weather patterns in the region.
The message is clear: human health is firmly tethered to – and inseparable from – the health of animals, plants and the environment that contains us all.
To state the obvious: addressing interrelated challenges requires multisectoral collaboration.
One Health is an approach that connects disciplines to harness collective action, build synergies and collaboratively tackle complex health challenges.
This convergence is exemplified and implemented by the One Health Quadripartite comprising the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Health Organisation (WHO), and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
One region; One Health: priority areas for action
The Quadripartite has launched a One Health Joint Plan of Action which focuses on six priority technical areas, also known as “One Health Action Tracks”. These range from strengthening national health systems and preventing zoonotic pandemics to managing food safety and curbing antimicrobial resistance, or AMR.
In the WHO Western Pacific Region, countries are advancing these action tracks with support from the Quadripartite partners. From poultry markets in Java to rural rice-wine-making villages in Cambodia, country examples from the Region showcase how the One Health vision is being brought to life.
Tonga | Addressing the rise of vector-borne diseases
Dengue has increasingly become a serious public health problem across the Pacific, including in Tonga. In 2025, Tonga declared a dengue outbreak that lasted five months, with over 900 reported cases and three deaths.
Tonga launched a response, with support from WHO, that took on a One Health approach, engaging multiple sectors to address dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
Tonga’s Ministry of Health walked the talk in prioritizing stakeholder coordination to first learn about what worked and did not work during previous outbreaks. In addition, the Ministry, with the support of WHO, reviewed its decisions during the response to fine-tune decisions and actions to respond to challenges (also known as an intra-action review).
More recently, Tonga continued to build on their active approach in including voices from across the community. Multiple government authorities, church networks, media, and civil society organisations put strategy into practice through a hands-on training facilitated by WHO.
This hands-on training enabled participants to be more informed on public health safety measures during emergencies, including on effective communications and engagement, and applied principles from newly launched multi-hazard risk communication and community engagement strategy – putting strategy to practice.
Tonga also set a precedent for the Pacific by hosting the region’s first national bridging workshop – a practical step toward preparedness for future emergencies at the human-animal-environment interface.
Participants representing diverse sectors discussed gaps in Tonga’s preparedness and response systems, built connections across sectors, and developed a coherent, resource-efficient roadmap to strengthen Tonga’s capacity – and by extension, the Pacific’s – to detect, prevent and respond to zoonotic and pandemic threats through shared ownership and coordinated action. …PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
By Munkhtuya Altangerel, Resident Representative, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji
NUKU’ALOFA, 08 APRIL 2026 (UNDP)—As Tonga maps its coastline with pinpoint precision, a Prime Minister’s words carry the weight of a nation’s future, and a message for the world.
There is a moment, stepping off the plane at Fua’amotu International Airport, that stays with you. The descent alone prepares you, the Blue Pacific Ocean filling the window in every direction, land appearing almost as an afterthought, narrow and low against the water. Then the door opens, and the Kingdom of Tonga meets you: warm air, quiet ceremony, a pace to life with its own rhythm, its own order of things.
Culture here is not preserved behind glass in a museum or gallery, it is lived. In the tapa cloth and the woven mats that mark every significant occasion. In the way people greet each other, or speak about the land and sea around them. They speak to these not as resources, but as inheritance, where tradition is not simply nostalgia. The fonua – the land – is life.
What is at stake in the face of climate change is not just an environmental question, but a civilisational one. The same low horizon that greets you on your final approach to the island of Tongatapu is the measure of everything Tonga is working to protect. Not just coastline, but all that the head and the heart hold.
Which is exactly why, in 2026, something quietly significant is happening above it.
A specialised survey aircraft is tracing the contours of Tonga’s scattered islands, firing pulses of laser light toward the ground and measuring their return. The technology is called LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and what it produces is a precise, three-dimensional picture of the land below: every ridge, every depression, every coastal edge that stands between a community and the sea.
When this survey is complete, Tonga will have achieved full national LiDAR coverage across every low-lying island. It is a foundation, the kind of data that makes everything else possible. Coastal flood modelling. Infrastructure planning. Sea-level rise projections. Decisions, in short, that will shape lives for decades.
A phrase belongs to Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hon. Lord Fakafanua, spoken recently with an urgency that felt less like political rhetoric and more like a reckoning:
“The decisions made today will shape our future for decades.”
Lord Fakafanua said something else worth sitting with. That meeting the challenges ahead requires “a whole of government approach, not just one institution.”
The LiDAR survey is that principle made visible. Multiple government ministries, the UN Development Programme, the Pacific Community (SPC), and private sector specialists are all working from the same data, toward the same goal, made possible through the Green Climate Fund-supported US$23.9 million Tonga Coastal Resilience Project (TCRP).
And what they are building, together, is knowledge. For too long, small island nations have been asked to make consequential decisions about their futures with incomplete information.
This new survey will enable:
* Flood and inundation modelling – precisely mapping which areas flood under cyclones, storm surge, and sea-level rise scenarios.
*Coastal risk maps – identifying areas most vulnerable to coastal flooding and guiding future decisions on infrastructure, coastal management and community protection.
*Sea-level rise planning – modelling impacts under half a metre, one metre, two metre, and four metres of sea-level rise.
*Infrastructure investment – helping identify low-risk areas for future development and steering investment away from the highest-risk zones.
This is, at its core, a story about knowledge. Planning coastal infrastructure without knowing precisely how much land sits above a one-metre flood line, preparing for disasters without granular data on where the water will go first. The LiDAR baseline being built now changes that. It puts Tonga in the room not as a supplicant but as a nation with evidence, with data, with a seat at every table that matters.
That matters enormously as October approaches. Fiji will host a pre-COP meeting this year, and the Pacific’s voice in global climate negotiations has never been more consequential. What Tonga is doing, an approach that is methodical, technical, and nationally-owned, is the kind of leadership that earns that voice.
“Infrastructure, investment, and empowerment to leave no one behind. These are investments in our future, and the time is now,” Lord Fakafanua said.
The TCRP project is not waiting. The 2026 survey builds on earlier work stretching back to 2012, stitching together datasets from the Australian Government, the World Bank, and now the Green Climate Fund into a single, unified national picture. SPC’s geospatial experts, a technical team from Fugro, and Tonga’s own national mapping specialists are working side by side to ensure that when the aircraft departs, the knowledge stays, embedded in institutions, in people, and in capacity that endures.
From above, Tonga still looks scattered. A sea of islands, beautiful but exposed. But look closer. There are people here making careful, serious decisions about the future. Mapping the ground beneath their feet. Building the evidence base that will inform where a seawall goes, which road gets raised, which community needs to move.
Tonga is doing the work. And in a year when the world will gather to talk about climate ambition, that is worth saying clearly. …PACNEWS
