Pacific Leaders Not Surprised by Latest Climate Report, Call For Rapid Action

Pacific leaders are not surprised by the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that says current action and plans are insufficient to keep warming below 1.5 degrees.

The report said more than a century of burning fossil fuels and unsustainable land use has had led to global warming of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Vanuatu's Minister for Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu said the report makes "very clear" the planet is out of time to make climate transformations. Continue reading here (Source: Radio New Zealand).

La Niña Phenomenon Expected to Negatively Impact Ecuador through April 2023

Ecuador is currently facing the longest La Niña phenomenon in 120 years, with negative economic impacts on key sectors such as fishing and agriculture.

La Niña is an atmospheric phenomenon characterized by a drop in sea surface temperature, and typically lasts between nine months to three years. However, the current La Niña 2020-2023 has been the longest in the last 66 years, lasting for 34 months already, and is expected to continue until April 2023. Continue reading here (Source: The Cuenca Dispatch).

New Caledonia, Fiji Embark on Jurisdictional Approach Initiative for Longline Tuna Fishery

The French overseas territory of New Caledonia and the Pacific island nation of Fiji have initiated a jurisdictional approach initiative for their longline tuna fishery.

Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A.-based non-governmental organization Conservation International led the effort to form the initiative, signing a memorandum of understanding with the Fiji Fishing Industry Association (FFIA) on 21 November, 2022, and New Caledonia’s Fédération des Pêcheurs Hauturiers (FPH), and Association des Industriels de Transformation des Produits Hauturiers (AITPH) on 15 December, 2022.

Continue reading here (Source: SeafoodSource).

US Navy Deploys an LCS to Enforce Fishing Rules in Western Pacific

The U.S. Navy has deployed one of its newest Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships to the South Pacific - with a Coast Guard boarding team on board. The Coast Guard-LCS combination has proven itself in counternarcotics interdiction campaigns off Central America, and the new deployment extends that model to fisheries enforcement partnerships with Pacific Island nations.

Though costly to operate when compared with a Coast Guard cutter, the Independence-class LCS provides an additional vessel platform in the Pacific, freeing up naval surface combatants and National Security Cutters for other missions. It carries the same 57mm deck gun as the NSC, and it is capable of launching small boats for vessel boardings and search drones for reconnaissance.  Continue reading here (Source: The Maritime Executive).

US Coast Guard, Federated States of Micronesia National Police Conduct At-Sea Engagements to Combat Illegal Fishing, Strengthen Skills

The U.S. Coast Guard and Federated States of Micronesia National Police conducted a successful at-sea engagement to combat illegal fishing in Yap State on March 16, 2023.

The crews of USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) and the FSS Tosiwo Nakayama (P901) conducted a joint patrol near Yap State in support of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency's Operation 365, part of the FFA's regional monitoring control and surveillance operations to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Pacific.

"The crew enjoyed conducting a professional exchange including navigation and seamanship training during a close-quarters formation steaming with our colleagues aboard the FSS Tosiwo Nakayama before they pulled into Yap," said Lt. Freddy Hofschneider, commanding officer of the Oliver Henry. Continue reading here (Source: Dvids).