"We are not drowning, we are fighting"
Pacific leaders plea to the world to act on “climate crisis” New York - As the world’s leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly and climate summit today, heads of states of Pacific nations are again making a plea to the world for an effective action on the climate crisis which is devastating the region. Pacific Islands Forum Heads of Delegation with United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, at the UN Headquarters in New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas Ahe
Fiji to host Japan-initiated Pacific leaders’ meeting
Koror - Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono announced that the next ministerial interim Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) will be held for the first time in Fiji in mid-2020. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. Photo courtesy of Office of the President, Palau Kono first made the pronouncement during his trip to Fiji on August 4 as part of his Asia-Pacific engagements and reiterated it during his first visit to Palau on
New changes coming to Palau’s national marine sanctuary law
Koror- Proposed amendments to the Palau National Marine Sanctuary Act (PNMS) to lift the export ban on pelagic fish and create a corridor to the high seas as the new boundary for the 20 percent Domestic Fishing Zone (DFZ) will be signed into law today (June 12). The bill seeks to allow commercial exports of fish within the DFZ for its economic “vital revenue” from foreign fishing license fees and for Palau to also earn revenue from fish caught inside and exported from the dom
U.S. needs to step up to China’s growing influence in Pacific- Remengesau
Koror- The United States should step up to China’s expanding economic and political influence in the Pacific, President Tommy Remengesau Jr. said ahead of his historic meeting with President Donald Trump next week. President Remengesau, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Hilda C. Heine, and President of the Federated States of Micronesia David W. Panuelo are scheduled to meet President Trump at the White House on May 21, 2019. Asked on issues he wanted to disc
Tuna Commission ended with positive measures in place
Honolulu- The Western Central and Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) ended on a positive note with several measures that will ensure that tuna stocks continue to be in a healthy state, earning praise from the Pacific nations and environmental groups. On Friday night’s conclusion of the meeting, the 26-member WCPFC under the tutelage of outgoing chair Rhea Moss –Christian agreed to the adoption of the South Pacific albacore Interim Target Reference Point (TRP). South Pacific
Palau Compact funding signed
Washington D.C. -U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has praised President Donald Trump for signing the 2018 Omnibus Funding Agreement, which included funding to finalize the 2010 Palau Compact Review Agreement between the United States and the Republic of Palau. He said that funding the 2010 Palau Compact Review Agreement demonstrates the continued U.S. commitment to Palau and the Western Pacific region. “The agreement is an important element of the Pacific national security
US Congressional Delegation to visit Palau
Koror- A three-member United States. Congressional delegation led by the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Senator Lisa Murkowski, and two non-voting members of the House of Representatives, CNMI’s Kilili Sablan and American Samoa’s Amata Radewagen will visit Palau this weekend. Palau President Tommy Remenegsau Jr. disclosed this during the national leadership meeting yesterday. Senator Murkowski’s committee has the congressional jurisdiction ove
Tuna Commission Adopts Pacific Port Inspections Of Suspect Fishing Boats
Manila, Philippines- The Forum Fisheries Agency is delighted that the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) has adopted its proposal for a new Port State Measure to combat illegal fishing by boosting Pacific Island capacity to conduct port inspections. Fisheries Forum Agency (FFA) James Movick said the adoption of the port state measure is a victory against illegal fishing. Tuna are offloaded from a fishing vessel spotted by the Palau Marine law enforcers t
Annual Regional Forum Opens With Emphasis on Blue Pacific
Apia, Samoa-The 48th Pacific Islands Forum officially opened Tuesday night as leaders from its 18 member countries were greeted with the traditional Samoan ritual--the ava ceremony--reflecting the summit’s theme of “The Blue Pacific.” Ava Ceremony Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, took over the chairmanship of the Forum from Federated States of Micronesia. President Peter Christian, The Samoa Prime Minister said that the member nations should work together
Annual Pacific Islands Forum Opens in FSM
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia- The 16-nation Pacific Islands group started the 47th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meetings Wednesday with the annual Smaller Island States (SIS) meeting. Small Island States leaders meet at Pohnpei, FSM This group, comprised of Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau and Tuvalu, reiterated that their unique vulnerabilities, including climate finance, air transport, and fisheries, should be part of the forum’s pol
