Mining’s new frontier: Pacific nations caught in the rush for deep-sea riches
Miners are pushing hard to extract metals from the ocean floor, but there is mounting concern about what it might do to the marine...
Numbers of drifting FADs underestimated, SPC study shows
By Claire Heath
The numbers of drifting fish-aggregating devices in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) have been underestimated, an ongoing study by...
Disruptions to global shipping: regional impacts
Written by Rachel Richardson, Rob Hitchins
Global attention focused on shipping in March, as container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal, disrupting movements...
Death at sea: the fisheries inspectors who never came home
By Bernadette Carreon
In his last email to his family, Eritara Aati Kaierua told them he loved them and apologised for not being in...
Bougainville independence: Pressure for PNG agreement builds
Setting goals for independence by 2025, UN membership and a sustainable economy signal Bougainville’s resolve
By Anthony Regan
The second constitutionally mandated post-referendum consultations between Papua...
The mice that roared: how eight tiny countries took on foreign fishing fleets
By Christopher Pala
It has been described as “the most remarkable achievement of the Pacific island countries in the last 50 years”.
In 1982, eight,...
Violence against women in Pacific politics
Written by Ancuta Hansen
As with their sisters around the world, many women in the Pacific Islands are victims of violence. While much of...
SPREP to celebrate 28 years with an Open Day on 16 June
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) will open its doors to the public on 16 June in celebration of the day...
COVID-19 made deep-sea mining more tempting for some Pacific islands – this could be...
by Sue Farran
While most Pacific islands have escaped the worst of COVID-19, a cornerstone of their economies, tourism, has taken a big hit....
The Trump of Samoa
By Oliver Hasenkamp
For decades, Samoa was seen as the most politically stable country in the Pacific. Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi served as prime minister...
Latest article
Forum Economic Ministers back regional action on energy crisis and economic inclusion
Pacific finance ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to stronger regional cooperation, energy security and economic resilience as they concluded the 2026 Forum Economic Ministers...
Bougainville MP calls for managed transition toward self-government and Independence
Bougainville Regional Member Peter Tsiamalili Jr has called for a carefully managed transition toward greater self-government and eventual independence for Bougainville, arguing that the...
NZ PM Luxon, PM Rabuka discuss fuel crisis and drug threats
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reaffirmed Fiji’s importance as a key regional partner following a phone conversation with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka...