Results for Pacific Islands

A new Tropical Tunas Bridging Measure was adopted in the early hours of this morning, after a marathon session by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting in the Philippines this week. The Chair and the Executive Director today issued a joint statement on the outcomes of the 14th annual meeting of the Commission, which also include a Conservation and Management Measure on Pacific Bluefin, bycatch mitigation strategies and conservation measures on marine pollution.

Different approaches towards managing a heavily depleted fish stock have emerged between two Pacific nations. At the 14th annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) currently being held in Manila, Philippines, the Solomon Islands and the Cooks Islands – home to the two biggest southern albacore fisheries - have separately voiced preferences for competing management systems for the tuna.

Hosting a celebration for the 84th birthday of HIM Emperor Akihito, yesterday, the new Japanese Ambassador to Tonga recognised the friendship between the Royal household of Tonga and Imperial household of Japan.

Ambassadors to Tonga are presenting their credentials to HM King Tupou VI at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa this week during Diplomatic Week.

American, Dean Jay Fletcher (54) who is wanted in Tonga on the charge of brutally murdering his wife in July 2016 has been ordered released in Hawaii, after the United States District Court on November 1 ordered the dismissal of his extradition. The Tonga Government sought Fletcher's extraditon for the offenses of murder, manslughter, and inflicting grievous bodily harm. However, the US Secretary of State had "determined that Fletcher could not be guaranteed a fair trial in Tonga" because he did not have funds to defend himself.

With the intensity of disasters increasing in the Pacific region, the risk of gender based violence in emergencies (GBViE) for women and children is also increasing, said Ms Shamima Ali, Coordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) at a five day Pacific Regional Workshop on GBViE this week, 23-27 October, in Suva, Fiji.

Fiji has become the first developing country to issue a green bond in its bid to raise $100m (US$50m) for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and other environmental-friendly projects.

The World Bank is convinced that its Pacific Possible PP initiative will boost economic growth in the Pacific Island Countries PIC over the next 25 years.

A platoon of Royal Tonga Marines from His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) has joined the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) to evacuate around 11,000 residents from the active volcanic Ambae Island in Vanuatu on 30 September.