PINA

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...

Leaders from across the Pacific region will be gathering next month for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and related meetings from 11-14 July 2022 in Suva, Fiji. Chaired by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Voreqe Bainimarama, the meeting will be an opportunity to strengthen relationships and reset goals and priorities for regionalism and collective action as a Forum Family. "The...

By Pita Ligaiula in Lisbon, Portugal Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are demanding greater action from countries responsible for increased pressure on marine ecosystems at the UN Oceans Conference in Lisbon. They also emphasised that international law, strong partnerships and honoured commitments chart the way to sustainable ocean management. The 2022 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development...