Islands Business partners

13/12/2024

PRESS RELEASE!!

SSC to Review Fisheries Data and Management Strategies

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet Dec. 12-13, 2024, to address key issues affecting fisheries management in the Pacific Islands.

Electronic Monitoring Program Development for Western Pacific Fisheries: Electronic monitoring (EM) is a voluntary program in Western Pacific longline fisheries for the purpose of research and development. The SSC will discuss decision points the Council may take to transition EM to required monitoring. The Council is considering options for EM implementation, including whether it should be implemented as a phased-in and optional or fully mandatory program, its scope across fisheries, and how it will supplement existing logbook and human observer programs. The SSC may advise the Council on EM authorization and provide guidance on processing EM data to improve the estimation of protected species interactions in fisheries.

American Samoa Bottomfish Revision: In June 2023, the SSC recommended the Council revise the American Samoa Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan to update the bottomfish management unit species list and explore a “rate-based” approach to annual catch limits for data-limited fisheries. The SSC may advise whether this flexible “Tier 6” method should apply solely to American Samoa bottomfish or be expanded to other regional fisheries.

Main Hawaiian Islands Uku Update: The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) will present a 2024 update to the 2020 benchmark stock assessment for main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku, incorporating five additional years of catch, catch per unit effort and size data, along with corrections for recreational catch estimates. The updated assessment shows the fishery is healthy—not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. The SSC will review and potentially endorse recommendations from a stock assessment review panel that the assessment is the best available science for management.

Strategic Planning: The SSC will discuss progress on its strategic planning exercise, launched at the 153rd meeting in September, to shape its work and membership for the coming years. The initiative aims to address evolving fishery management challenges while enhancing the recruitment and retention of top scientists.

Learn more @ https://t.ly/xYUGn

13/12/2024

13/12/2024

October 6, 2024 is a significant milestone for Japan, marking 70 years since its commencement of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 1954. Over these seven decades, as a major global partner, Japan has extended its cooperation programs to 190 countries and regions, contributing to their economic and social development as well as peace and prosperity in the global community. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is responsible for administrating Japan’s ODA, offering a wide variety of cooperation programs, including finance and investment cooperation, technical cooperation, and other services including emergency aid and the dispatch of volunteers. 2024 is also special year for JICA Fiji Office, as JICA Fiji Office celebrates 40th anniversary of the establishment.

Despite the significant efforts by the international communities, many global challenges remain unresolved. Rather, issues such as Climate Change, Armed Conflict, Pandemics, Natural Disasters, Economic Crises, and other threats have become more complex and interlinked, leading to the compound crises. The international community needs to work harder and more closely than ever to overcome these compound crises.

In the PICs, Climate Change is often referred to as “The Single Greatest Threat”, and Climate Change Mitigation through promoting decarbonization is now urgently needed. Although Renewable Energy (RE) power generation such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine are gradually deployed as a countermeasure against Climate Change, Diesel Engine Generator (DEG) is still the major source of power supply in most PICs. As these countries rely on imports for almost 100% of their fuel, they are also vulnerable to the impacts of transportation costs and price volatility, which is an energy security issue.

In response to this situation, the “Project for Introduction of Hybrid Power Generation System in the PICs” was launched by JICA in 2017 and completed in June 2023. A hybrid power generation system makes the best use of two generation technologies, namely DEG and variable RE generation such as PV system. Although DEG enables a stable power supply, fuel costs and periodical maintenance costs are more expensive, creating a considerable burden for power companies. On the other hand, variable RE generation such as PV offers low operation cost and less impact on our environment, however it does not provide a stable power supply without appropriate stability measures because their power generation fluctuates according to weather conditions.

Read more @ https://t.ly/uULl1

12/12/2024

When COP29 closed in the early hours of November 24, parties had set a goal for at least US$300 billion annually by 2035 to help fight climate change in developing countries. But this finance goal was harshly criticised, with developing nations who had sought over US$1 trillion in assistance calling the agreement “insulting” and arguing it did not give them the vital resources they required to truly address the complexities of the climate crisis. https://t.ly/eK3mk

12/12/2024

PRESS RELEASE!!

Global Development Conference 2024 concludes

The Global Development Conference (GDC) 2024 was hosted by the Global Development Network (GDN) in partnership with the Government of Fiji and The University of the South Pacific (USP) from November 26 to 28, 2024. The conference brought together climate experts, researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, and students to engage in impactful discussions on advancing climate resilience within the local context.

This year’s conference was attended by a diverse group of over 700 participants from nearly 100 nationalities, with more than 200 attending in person and 500 joining online. Notably, 50% of the participants were women, highlighting the conference’s commitment to inclusivity and gender equity. Together, they embodied the spirit of global collaboration.

The sessions explored critical themes of climate resilience, sustainable development, and innovative adaptation strategies, with a particular focus on the unique challenges and opportunities in the Pacific region, and local solutions. These sessions were organised by GDN, USP, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), featuring speakers from numerous leading development organisations worldwide. Over the course of the event, workshops hosted by GlobalDev, USP, FERDI, Live & Learn International, Impact Dragonfly, and Australian Catholic University (ACU) addressed a wide range of topics aimed at enhancing climate awareness, communication, and skills development.

Read more at http://surl.li/srjrxt

11/12/2024

MEDIA RELEASE!!

Pacific Legal Network Announces New Member Firm in Cook Islands

Pacific Legal Network (PLN) is very pleased to announce our newest member firm, Rokoika Law, a boutique law firm based in the Cook Islands. Under the leadership of Lavi Rokoika, Rokoika Law has established itself as an experienced provider of legal services in a wide range of practice areas including corporate law, real estate, and intellectual property.

This alliance is a significant step in strengthening PLN’s ability to provide seamless, local and regional expertise to clients across the Pacific. We are looking forward to our continued collaboration with Rokoika Law to bring even greater value to our clients.

Lavi Rokoika brings over twenty years legal experience including an instrumental role in shaping significant laws in the region such as Fiji’s Air Navigation Regulations and the Cook Islands’ Transport and Public Health Laws, demonstrating her in-depth understanding of the legal landscape. Lavi has a great ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, seamlessly bridging social, economic, and cultural differences. Her exceptional interpersonal skills, combined with a deep sense of empathy, make her a sought-out advisor, offering clients support and confidence throughout their legal experience.

Read more at http://surl.li/ikhftw

10/12/2024

MEDIA RELEASE!

SPX Charts New Horizons at World Federation of Exchanges Annual Meeting

The South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) participated at the 63rd General Assembly and Annual Meeting of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry group for exchanges and CCPs. The event, which featured high-level discussions on the future of capital markets drew the participation of over 300 industry leaders, regulatory authorities, and institutional representatives from over 50 global organizations and was hosted by the Malaysian Stock Exchange Bursa Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

The forum marked a key milestone for SPX, allowing it to reestablish its presence in the global stock exchange industry after a number of years. This was the first time SPX participated in the WFE Annual Meeting, attending as an invited guest exchange. The event is generally exclusively open to WFE Member and Affiliate Stock Exchanges, making the inclusion of SPX noteworthy.

Read more at https://t.ly/9Ts7f

02/12/2024

🗞️📢 PRESS RELEASE!! 🗞️ 📢

USP offers flexible, quality education across the region

The University of the South Pacific (USP) is one of the biggest multi-mode universities in the Commonwealth, offering face-to-face, blended and online learning options for students.

The 2024 Global Education Monitoring Report for the Pacific, published by UNESCO in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), focused on technology in education in the Pacific and highlighted USP’s important role and responsibility in providing learning opportunities and accessible education to the region.

Established in 1968 in Fiji, the report noted that USP is an advanced example of open and distance learning.

Read more on https://t.ly/PfZMv

02/12/2024

02/12/2024

02/12/2024

Small ACP (African, Caribbean, Pacific) states boast a rich diversity of cultures and resources, giving them significant potential for greater trade and market opportunities. International trade plays a crucial role in the economic lives of Pacific ACP countries (PACPs). However, due to their inherent ‘smallness’ and ‘remoteness’, these nations face challenges in accessing markets and improving trade. Isolated from larger markets, PACPs encounter higher export costs related to transportation, marketing and distribution. Furthermore, small island nations struggle to meet international trade requirements and standards, further limiting their market access.

Learn more at @ https://t.ly/Tg_Q2

28/11/2024

As global debates on climate finance, loss and damage and urgent climate action continued at the COP29 Climate Talks, the Pacific region remains on the frontlines of climate change. For Pacific communities, climate change is not a distant threat — it is a daily reality.

With the world off course to meet resilience targets by 2030, the stakes are high. Between 2014 and 2023, disasters claimed an average of 41,000 lives annually, with 125 million people affected each year — a 71% increase from the previous decade. Economic cost of disasters also remained stubbornly high with $131 billion annually, or 0.3% of global GDP, with small island developing states like those in the Pacific bearing a disproportionate share.

Yet, hope lies in action — and the Pacific has solutions. The United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) continues to support governments in the Pacific to accelerate both climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, addressing challenges while leveraging local strengths.

Learn more @ https://t.ly/U9rU2

26/11/2024

📣🔎 🌎 JOIN THE TEAM @ SPREP 📣🔎🌎

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is excited to announce job openings for passionate and qualified individuals to join their dynamic team. They are currently hiring for the following positions:

1.) Manager, SPREP North Pacific Office (MNPO)
2.) Climatologist – Climate and Oceans Support Programme in the Pacific Phase 3 (CL-COSPPac3)
3.) Communications Officer – Climate and Oceans Support Programme in the Pacific Phase 3 (CO-COSPPac3)
4.) Project Development and Implementation Officer (PDIO)

For more details and to apply, please visit https://www.sprep.org/careers

Applications Close: Friday, 31 January 2025 (Samoa Time)

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