PINA

Tonga have made eight changes to their starting line-up to play Samoa this weekend following last week’s disappointing 36-0 loss to Fiji in Suva in the Pacific Nations Cup. The Tongans generated great hype leading into that opening match as they had selected an XV that included for the first time the ex-All Blacks duo of Malakai Fekitoa and Charles...

Forum Foreign Ministers are convening in Suva Friday 08 July to discuss key regional developments and priorities ahead of the July 11-14th 51st session of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders. The high-level events represent the first face to face meeting since 2019 for Pacific Leaders and Foreign Ministers. Importantly, the 2022 Ministerial will set the scene for high-level Talanoa on Pacific Forum...

The five-day UN Ocean Conference ended today with more than 150 countries collectively agreeing to scale up science-based and innovative actions to address the ocean emergency. This agreement, together with bold commitments from all sectors of society — youth, civil society, businesses and the scientific community — clearly demonstrates the centrality of a safe, healthy and productive ocean to...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal The United Nations Ocean Conference(UNOC2022) has heard scientific collaboration and knowledge-sharing is essential to protecting humanity’s shared ocean heritage. Speaking at the UNOC2022, Nauru representative Margo Deiye highlighted the unique sustainable-development challenges facing her small island developing State pointed to its small size, over-dependence on imports and vulnerability to climate change. She emphasised the ocean’s importance...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon A member of the British Royal family- Princess Eugenie the youngest daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York visited the Pacific booth Friday on the margins of the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Lisbon. She is the granddaughter of the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Eugenie offered to take...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal Four Pacific countries have ratified Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA). This was revealed by Pacific Oceans Commissioner and Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna at the UN Oceans conference (UNOC) in Lisbon. "The region is committed to meet international requirements in dealing with the use and entry of ports through the UN FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA). Currently,...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon The Pacific nation of Tuvalu is well represented at the UN oceans Conference(UNOC) in Lisbon this week despite diplomatic spat with China. Tuvalu's foreign minister Simon Kofe withdrew from the UNOC in protest after accusing Beijing of coercion against his delegation. Tuvalu maintain diplomatic relationships with Taiwan. Kofe said China sought to remove Taiwanese delegates from Tuvalu's credentials...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal France will co-host the next United Nations Oceans conference (UNOC) in 2025 in the city of Marseille. The announcement was made Thursday by French President, Emmanuel Macron at the UNOC in Lisbon, Portugal. Macron said France will co-host the next conference with Costa Rica. “We must set ourselves, as during the Paris agreements in 2015, ambitious objectives...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal Pacific Ocean Commissioner and Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna has called on all UN Members to join the Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the face of Climate Change-related Sea-level rise. Speaking Thursday at the interactive dialogue: “Enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law, as reflected in the...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal Voices of Small scale fisheries are often undervalued and unrecognised in global food systems, delegates and experts at the UN Oceans conference heard this week. The interactive dialogue — “Making Fisheries Sustainable and Ensuring Access to Marine Resources and Markets for Small-Scale Fishers” — looked at how subsidies exacerbate the problems of overcapacity and...