PACNEWS THREE, 19 OCTOBER 2026

UN – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS                   PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

U.S calls for end to UN decolonisation committee, criticises Pacific visits

By Pita Ligaiula

NEW YORK, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— The United States has called for the abolition of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation, dismissing its annual work and visits to the Pacific as a waste of UN resources.

Speaking at the UN Fourth Committee on 15 October, the United States said the committee had “outlived its original purpose” and urged the termination of its mandate, escalating its opposition to the international decolonisation process.

The committee, formally known as the Special Committee on Political and DecoloniSation, considers the status of non-self-governing territories and supports their peoples’ right to self-determination.

Six of the 17 territories remaining on the UN list are in the Pacific: American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Tokelau and Pitcairn.

The United States criticised the committee’s annual consideration of decolonisation resolutions and described its visits to the Caribbean and South Pacific as “yearly junkets”.

“Revisiting the same texts every year wastes the UN’s time and resources, as do the special committee’s yearly junkets to resorts in the Caribbean and South Pacific,” the US representative said.

The United States also argued that independence should not be the only outcome of a decolonisation process, saying people in non-self-governing territories should be able to choose independence, free association, integration with the administering state or another political status freely determined by them.

“The Special Committee should not presume to speak for these peoples, or intervene in the internal affairs of a sovereign state and its relations with non-self-governing territories,” the representative said.

However, Washington also reiterated its opposition to criticism of a U.S federal court ruling that blocked Guam’s planned self-determination plebiscite.

It reaffirmed the United States’ sovereign right to conduct military activities in accordance with its national security interests and international law.

The U.S representative further argued that foundational UN texts on decolonisation, including General Assembly Resolution 1514 of 1960, were non-binding and did not necessarily reflect international law.

Resolution 1514, adopted in 1960, declared that colonialism should be brought to an end and affirmed the right of peoples to self-determination.

The U.S and Israel were the only countries to vote against all resolutions and decisions under the agenda item, according to the U.S statement.

On the initial resolution concerning non-self-governing territories, 160 countries voted in favour, while the United States and Israel voted against it.

Voting on other resolutions was more divided, including proposals addressing whether colonialism should encompass economic coercion and other contemporary practices.

Washington also accused the committee of becoming a forum for political and ideological disputes rather than focusing on the interests of people living in the remaining territories.

The U.S representative cited Puerto Rico, which was removed from the UN list of non-self-governing territories by General Assembly Resolution 748 in 1953, arguing that the committee continued to hold annual hearings despite that decision.

The United States concluded by calling for the committee’s mandate to be ended, saying people in the remaining territories should not be used as political instruments by other governments.

The U.S position comes as the Pacific continues to press for greater international attention to the right of territories in the region to determine their political futures.

The six Pacific territories on the UN list have different political and constitutional relationships with their administering powers, making self-determination a continuing issue for the region…PACNEWS

PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS       PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Pacific leaders must turn climate promises into action at COP31: Former Fiji Ambassador to UN

By Pita Ligaiula

SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2206 (PACNEWS)—-Pacific leaders must use the momentum from the Fiji-Tuvalu Pre-COP31 meeting to secure climate finance, strengthen regional resilience and ensure the voices of vulnerable communities influence global decisions, former Fiji Ambassador to the United Nations Dr Satyendra Prasad says.

In an opinion piece titled ‘A Blue Pacific on Fire on the Road to COP31’, Dr Prasad says the region has demonstrated leadership and innovation in addressing climate change, raising expectations for world leaders ahead of the UN climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.

He said the Pacific should not be treated as a passive recipient of international assistance but recognised as a region developing its own solutions to the climate crisis.

“This time the Pacific did not turn up as spectators — not as communities to be piloted upon — but as drivers who were framing, leading, implementing and learning as they did so,” Dr Prasad says.

He congratulates the Fiji and Tuvalu governments for hosting the Pre-COP31 meeting, which brought together about 5,000 community leaders, faith representatives, researchers, scientists, activists, diplomats and negotiators.

He also acknowledges Australia’s role in advocating for and supporting a Pacific Pre-COP, describing the event as a significant demonstration of partnership with the region.

Dr Prasad said the gathering provided an important platform for Pacific communities on the frontlines of climate change to share their experiences and solutions with international decision-makers.

“The Pre-COP31 is a moment that was owned by people and communities who lived on frontlines of climate change.

“But they are not only living on its frontlines. They are indeed holding the frontlines for the rest of the world,” he said.

Despite the progress, Dr Prasad says the region continues to face the challenge of turning international climate commitments into practical support for vulnerable communities.

He highlighted the need to restore farms affected by saltwater intrusion, relocate health centres threatened by rising seas and build sea walls to protect coastal villages.

“How hard can it be to secure resources to support rebuilding farms that have lost to salt water intrusion?.

“How hard can it be to relocate some 50 health centres across the region to higher grounds? How hard can it be to build the 15,000 or so sea walls to keep rising seas at bay for that much longer from our coastal villages?” he asks.

He says the difficulty of repeatedly making the case for more climate finance remains frustrating for Pacific countries facing immediate and growing risks.

However, the voices of Pacific advocates and young people at the Pre-COP31 gathering offered renewed determination and hope, he said.

Dr Prasad said the meeting also demonstrated that Pacific countries are moving beyond seeking solutions from the international community and are developing their own approaches to climate resilience.

He highlights Solomon Islands and Tonga’s presentation of new climate ambitions and national climate funds, supported in part by domestic resources.

Papua New Guinea showcased progress in developing policy foundations to protect its forests, which represent about five per cent of the world’s primary forestland, while Palau, Niue, Tonga and other countries presented initiatives linking ocean and marine conservation with economic opportunities and improved livelihoods.

Dr Prasad said these initiatives show how Pacific countries can turn their natural resources, traditional knowledge and community experience into practical solutions.

He also points to the emergence of financial approaches that combine national, international, public and private funding to support ocean protection and biodiversity conservation.

The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) is another example of regional leadership, providing a mechanism to strengthen community resilience without increasing countries’ debt burdens.

“The region has undertaken bold steps to protect its communities by providing sufficient resources in ways that communities can access through its Pacific Resilience Facility.

“A region tired of climate debts set up its own facility to rebuild resilience without driving up national debt,” he said.

Dr Prasad challenges international partners to match the region’s commitment by contributing to the facility.

“If some of the smallest and most vulnerable states can make their own significant financial contributions into the Pacific Resilience Facility — so can the rest of the World.

“If the World did so, we can, as a region rebuild our resilience at pace. Antalya should deliver on this,” he said.

He said the Pacific’s central message remains the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which he describes as a critical safeguard for both the region and humanity.

“Our messages were and will remain simple. We have placed our trust in the World’s scientists. They agree that 1.5 degree Celsius temperature rise is a guardrail for us across the Blue Pacific. They agree that 1.5 is equally the guardrail for whole of humanity,” he said.

Dr Prasad said the region’s role as steward of a significant share of the world’s ocean must also be reflected in the outcomes of COP31.

He argues that ocean protection, climate action and the preservation of marine biodiversity should be central to the conference agenda.

Beyond finance and emissions reduction, Dr Prasad said Pacific countries must secure stronger representation in international decision-making, particularly in forums where their long-term security and survival are determined.

“The UN’s climate meetings are the place where the Pacific’s gravest priorities — the risk of state failures arising from repeated climate stresses ultimately get decided,” he said.

He says the success of the Pre-COP31 has strengthened the region’s position, but Pacific leaders must now convert that momentum into concrete outcomes.

“Our collective futures now depend on our leaders succeeding into getting into the DNA of decision making by the international community,” he said.

Dr Prasad said Pacific leaders will carry the expectations of communities, faith groups and people whose experiences are often overlooked in global negotiations into COP31.

“ To have raised our expectations from our leaders is not an unfair ask this time around therefore,” he said….PACNEWS

PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: RFI                   PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Pacific nations await climate billions, as fossil fuel divide looms over Cop31

NADI/FUNAFUTI, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (RFI)—Ahead of next month’s United Nations Cop31 climate summit, as a strengthening El Niño drives Pacific sea temperatures towards record levels, more than US$5 billion promised to the region remains unpaid.

Cop31 co-hosts Turkey and Australia are pushing to speed up the switch to electric transport, heating and industry, but participating countries are divided over how to wind down the use of coal, oil and gas.

Cop31 will run from 9-20 November in the Turkish resort city of Antalya. In a compromise that ended their rival bids to host, Turkish Environment Minister Murat Kurum will hold the presidency, while his Australian counterpart for climate and energy, Chris Bowen, will lead the negotiations.

Pacific countries had an opportunity to stress their priorities at last week’s lead-up meeting in Fiji, known as Pre-Cop. Around 4,000 people from more than 100 countries attended, with limiting global warming and getting climate money to vulnerable communities central to the discussions.

Leaders also travelled to Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific atoll state, where rising seas threaten to make much of the country uninhabitable.

“Tuvalu has made no contribution to this crisis, but unfortunately, they are faced with the threat,” Kurum told reporters in Fiji. “They are faced with an existential crisis, and they are paying the heaviest price.”

El Niño, a natural warming of the tropical Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide, is forecast to peak in December – with heat, drought and flood risks increasing in different regions.

Sea temperatures in a key stretch of the Pacific near the equator are forecast to average around 3.7C above average from October to December, a record for the El Niño index, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) last week warned.

The event releases heat stored beneath the ocean surface, helping make strong El Niño years unusually hot. “The ocean it’s drawing from is the warmest we’ve ever measured it,” WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo told this month’s Global Heat Forum in Bangkok.

El Niño returns every few years, but this event is adding to long-term warming already approaching the goals of the Paris Agreement, which commits countries to strive to limit warming to 1.5C.

That threshold is projected to be breached in the early 2030s, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said. Every additional fraction of a degree increases the risks, making rapid emissions cuts essential to limiting the damage.

Of the more than US$16 billion in climate finance committed to Pacific countries since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, more than US$5 billion is yet to be paid out, Pre-Cop organisers warned.

“We need adaptation finance to reach the communities that are already experiencing the impacts of climate change,” Lenora Qereqeretabua, Fiji’s assistant foreign minister, told reporters.

While adaptation helps people prepare for and cope with floods, drought and rising seas, getting the money to the communities that need it can be a slow and complex process. 

Australia used the Pre-Cop to launch a plan aimed at simplifying access to climate finance and getting funds moving faster, with other countries and development banks invited to sign up.

That backlog is separate from a far larger target agreed at Cop29 in Baku in 2024 to mobilise at least US$300 billion a year for developing countries, including Pacific nations, by 2035.

EU finance ministers reaffirmed that goal on Friday, backed efforts to triple adaptation finance by the same deadline and urged other countries with the means to contribute.

But a separate draft EU strategy says there is “no scope” for new climate funding commitments at Cop31. Drawn up by Ireland, which holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, it focuses instead on emissions cuts and putting existing pledges into practice.

Climate support should arrive reliably and mainly through grants rather than loans, the aid group CARE International said in its Cop31 policy paper. Wealthy countries also need to explain how they will deliver the promised US$300 billion a year by 2035.

Brazil, which hosted last year’s Cop30, is preparing a roadmap for the transition away from fossil fuels outside the formal talks. How to take that plan forward will fall to the hosts of the November summit.

A voluntary target to raise electricity’s share of global energy use from around 20 percent to 35 percent by 2035 is a priority.

Electrification means swapping petrol cars, gas boilers and other fossil-fuelled technology for electric alternatives. But the target does not say how the extra power should be produced, and switching to electricity only cuts emissions if that power comes mainly from renewables.

“If you electrify and you increase coal, then what are you doing?” Alden Meyer, an analyst at the climate policy think tank E3G said at the mid-year UN climate talks in Bonn.

In Turkey, wind and solar supplied 22 percent of electricity in 2025, up from 12 percent in 2020, Climate Action Tracker, an independent research project, found. Fossil fuels still generated 56 percent, and power-sector emissions hit a record high.

Australia, which will lead the negotiations, meanwhile faces scrutiny over its coal exports.

On Wednesday, the country’s High Court dismissed an appeal by mining company MACH Energy, blocking approval for an expansion of its Mount Pleasant mine in New South Wales.

Planners had failed to consider conditions to minimise emissions from coal burned overseas, the court found.

For Pacific countries, the fossil fuel debate is inseparable from the health of the ocean.

Around a quarter of the carbon dioxide released by human activity and more than 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases have been absorbed by the ocean, Fiji’s lands and mineral resources minister Filimoni Vosarogo reminded the Pre-Cop.

That has come at a cost to ocean health, with warming waters and increasing acidity. Pacific nations used the meeting to press for the ocean to be given a bigger place in UN climate negotiations.

“So, the resounding message from the Pacific Pre-Cop should be that never again should Mother Ocean, the planet’s primary climate regulator, be consigned to the back rows of deliberations,” said Peter Thomson, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for the ocean.

Ocean warming, acidification and sea level rise are recognised in the Taku Pakasoa Declaration adopted by leaders last week. Tuvalu has invited other countries to endorse it before the Antalya summit.

Turkey has also promised to work towards an Antalya Ocean Declaration recognising the ocean’s vital role in regulating the planet’s climate…PACNEWS

USA – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS                  PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

U.S Ambassador vacancies threaten global influence, national security

WASHINGTON, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Delays in confirming United States Ambassadors are weakening Washington’s global influence and creating opportunities for China and Russia to expand their diplomatic presence, the American Legion’s National Security Commission has warned.

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) reported that 92 of the United States’ 196 ambassadorial positions were vacant as of 1 October, leaving more than 100 embassies without a Senate-confirmed ambassador, according to the organisation.

The vacancies include diplomatic missions in countries with longstanding ties to Washington, as well as conflict-affected regions where competition for political influence with China and Russia has intensified.

The Lowy Institute’s 2024 Global Diplomacy Index found that China had more diplomatic posts than the United States in several regions, including Africa, the Pacific Islands, East Asia and Central Asia.

China maintained 60 diplomatic posts in Africa compared with 56 for the United States, nine in the Pacific Islands compared with eight, 44 in East Asia compared with 27, and seven in Central Asia compared with six.

The figures highlight growing competition for diplomatic influence as Washington faces delays in filling senior diplomatic positions.

James Grenier, chairman of the American Legion National Security Commission, said the vacancies could prompt U.S allies to seek stronger support from other powers.

“We know (they) are engaged in increasingly aggressive operations through transnational repression, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and election interference, often coordinated through their diplomatic missions,” Grenier said.

“Both countries plan to expand their power and influence worldwide and replace the U.S as a global hegemon. 

The United States is risking its national security by slashing Department of State positions and failing to prioritize backfilling vacant ambassador positions,” he said,

The commission argues that military strength alone cannot protect U.S interests against growing international security threats, making diplomatic representation an essential part of Washington’s national security strategy.

Ambassadors serve as the president’s personal representatives, engaging senior government officials, interpreting local political developments and advancing U.S policy.

Their absence can weaken diplomatic relationships, undermine confidence among partner governments and limit Washington’s ability to respond to emerging security challenges, the commission says.

Diplomatic missions also support alliance-building, development assistance and efforts to promote democracy and human rights.

The report notes that ambassadorial appointments can be delayed during the U.S Senate confirmation process, including through procedural holds and additional reviews unrelated to a nominee’s qualifications.

Further delays can occur after confirmation, when promotion lists for senior Foreign Service officers are returned to the White House for attestation, a process that can take another one to two months.

Confirmation timelines have lengthened over several decades. The average period increased from about 49 days during the first term of the Reagan administration to 193 days during the Biden administration. The current average is 127 days, according to the report.

The American Legion is calling on Congress to provide adequate funding for the Department of State and prioritise filling vacant ambassadorial and Foreign Service positions.

Its National Executive Committee adopted Resolution 25 in May 2022, emphasising the importance of maintaining diplomatic staffing and filling vacancies promptly.

The resolution warns that leaving ambassadorial posts vacant weakens the United States’ ability to advance its interests and creates opportunities for other countries to expand their influence.

Grenier urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation of qualified nominees.

“In a highly competitive global landscape, extended vacancies can diminish diplomatic ties, weaken U.S. influence, and provide adversaries with opportunities to grow their presence.

“Swiftly naming qualified ambassadors will bolster America’s international leadership, improve diplomatic operations, and better position the United States to safeguard its national security interests,” he said…..PACNEWS

SOL – MEDIA: TAVULI NEWS                       PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Georgina Maka’a Elected New MASI President

HONIARA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (TAVULI NEWS)—Investigative journalist Georgina Maka’a has been elected president of the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) at its annual general meeting in Honiara on Saturday.

Maka’a, a reporter and co-founder of In-Depth Solomons, succeeds Ofani Eremae, who has completed his term as president of the association.

Island Sun editor Irwin Angiki was elected vice president, succeeding Lynda Wate Seni of Isles Media.

Andrew Fanasia Junior, a communications officer with the Ministry of Rural Development, was also elected to the executive committee, succeeding Eddie Osifelo of the Solomon Star.

The newly elected members join continuing board members Ruthina Koroa, Chrisnrita Aumanu Leong, Ned Gagahe and Ednal Palmer.

Under MASI’s constitution, elected executive committee members serve two-year terms.

Maka’a has nearly two decades of experience in the media industry, with a background in print and broadcast journalism, investigative reporting and communications.

She co-founded In-Depth Solomons in May 2023 alongside journalists Eremae and Charley Piringi.

In his outgoing remarks at Saturday’s meeting, Eremae said MASI’s programmes would continue and called on members to support the association’s activities under the new leadership.

MASI is a not-for-profit charitable organisation representing journalists, media organisations and communications professionals in Solomon Islands.

The association traces its beginnings to 1980 and has evolved over the past 46 years alongside changes in the country’s media industry.

Its membership extends beyond traditional newsrooms to include professionals working in public relations, government communications and community media.

MASI works to promote ethical journalism, protect press freedom and support the professional development of media workers.

Over the years, the association has carried out programmes and activities to strengthen journalism and media, with support from development partners including the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), BBC Media Action and Internews…..PACNEWS

PAC – DIPLOMACY: ISLAND SUN               PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

We don’t see any country as a threat: U.S Embassy Public Affairs Officer Carr

HONIARA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLAND SUN)—The United States does not view any country as a threat unless it poses a direct threat to its security, according to U.S Embassy Public Affairs Officer Mark P. Carr.

Carr made the statement when Island Sun asked whether China’s growing influence in Solomon Islands posed a threat to the United States.

He said the U.S is willing to work with any country that is prepared to work for a common good.

Carr said United States recognises that Solomon Islands need to maintain balanced foreign relations.

“We are willing to work with anybody who is willing to work with us, and we understand that Solomon Islands, as a developing nation, has to balance its foreign relations,” he said.

Carr said the United States does not consider other countries a threat unless they are directly threatened.

“Unless we are threatened directly by a country, we don’t see them as a threat,” he said.

Carr’s comments come amidst growing international interest in the Pacific region, where countries such as the United States and China continue to engage with Pacific Island nations through diplomatic, economic and development partnerships.

For Solomon Islands, maintaining relationships with international partners remains an important part of its foreign policy as it seeks development opportunities and cooperation with different countries.

Carr’s remarks indicate that the United States is prepared to engage with Solomon Islands and other partners without automatically viewing their relationships with other countries as a threat….PACNEWS

PAC – POLICE: VICTORIAN NEWS              PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Police Chiefs endorse PACPOL

SAIPAN, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (VICTORIAN NEWS)— In a landmark decision that will shape the future of policing across the Pacific, the region’s Pacific Police Chiefs have endorsed the Constitution of the Pacific Community of Policing, known as PACPOL, formally establishing a new era of Pacific-led policing cooperation.

A vote was held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the 53rd Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Conference 2026 in the Commonwealth of (the) Northern Mariana Islands.

Conference members included Pacific chiefs or their delegates from American Samoa, Australia, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Naoero, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 

With the establishment of PACPOL, members elected the inaugural PACPOL Chair, Commissioner David Manning MBE, Ost.J, DPS, QPM, from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

The appointment of Commissioner Manning reflects the confidence and trust of Pacific police leaders in his leadership and commitment to regional cooperation, as PACPOL begins a new chapter in strengthening a safer, more connected, capable and resilient Pacific.

Chiefs also elected the inaugural PACPOL Deputy Chair, Commissioner Matatia Makaili of the Tuvalu Police Service.

Commissioner Makaili brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing our region, particularly Small Island Developing States. His appointment strengthens PACPOL’s commitment to a connected, capable and resilient Pacific policing family.

The endorsement marks the culmination of more than 56 years of regional policing collaboration and unifies the PICP and the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under the single, Pacific-owned umbrella and oversight of PACPOL.

PACPOL will mark a significant step forward in Pacific policing coordination, governance, capacity and capability building along with global engagement, and reflects the collective vision of Pacific Police Chiefs to strengthen regional security, enhance operational cooperation, and provide a united platform for coordinating and delivering Pacific policing priorities.

PACPOL represents the next chapter in Pacific policing, bringing together regional leadership, capability development, operational coordination and strategic governance under one organisation, guided by the principle of ‘By the Pacific, for the Pacific’.

The endorsement of the PACPOL Constitution transitions PACPOL from concept and design to implementation, providing the foundation for how PACPOL will operate, govern, make decisions and deliver on regional policing priorities.

Chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police and Commissioner of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Safety, Anthony Macaranas, said this was a historic moment for Pacific policing.

“The endorsement of the PACPOL Constitution demonstrates the collective leadership, unity and ambition of Pacific Police Chiefs to strengthen our region’s policing architecture,” Commissioner Macaranas said.

“PACPOL is a clear statement that Pacific nations are taking the lead in shaping their own policing future. By bringing together our existing institutions, capabilities and partnerships under one identity, we are creating a stronger platform to address emerging challenges, support our communities and protect the sovereignty of Pacific nations.”

Inaugural Chair of PACPOL and Commissioner of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary David Manning said PACPOL would strengthen regional capability, coordination and collaboration at a time when Pacific policing faced increasingly complex challenges.

“Through a unified approach, we can better develop our people, share expertise, enhance operational readiness and work together to respond to threats that no single jurisdiction can address alone,” Commissioner Manning said.

“The endorsement of the Constitution provides a strong foundation for practical outcomes that enhance safety, resilience and security across the Pacific.” 

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said this was a proud, historic day for the Pacific.

“As AFP Commissioner, I am honoured to have cast a historic vote in favour of a long-held ambition of this region. PACPOL,” Commissioner Barrett said.

“Pacific unity is more than a principle. Today, it is an action, a commitment and a promise to future generations. By coming together to endorse the PACPOL Constitution, Pacific Chiefs have demonstrated something that has always been at the heart of our region: when we stand together, we are stronger.

 “This is far more than the endorsement of a constitution. It is a shared commitment to a Pacific-led future, where Pacific voices, Pacific priorities and Pacific solutions help shape the security of our region and our people.”

PACPOL will be led by a single Chiefs Leadership Board, which replaces the previous separate governance arrangements of the PICP and PPI. The Chiefs Leadership Board will provide strategic oversight of PACPOL and its regional priorities.

The existing PPI Hub in Pinkenba, Brisbane, and the current PICP Secretariat will transition to become the PACPOL Hub and PACPOL Secretariat, ensuring continuity while supporting a more connected and effective regional policing model.

PACPOL advances Pacific-led policing solutions that protect the region’s sovereignty. PACPOL will amplify the impact and voice of Pacific policing regionally and across the world.

The establishment of PACPOL represents a new era for Pacific policing cooperation.

GUAM – HEALTH/WEATHER WATCH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES  PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Typhoon babies: 16 born at Guam hospital during Champi

HAGATNA, 19 OCTOBER 2206 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) maintained uninterrupted operations through Typhoon Champi’s closest approach, with 16 babies having been delivered before and during the storm, the hospital said.

Tihu Lujan, spokesperson for GMH, said 13 babies were born during Condition of Readiness 2 and three during COR 1.

The hospital also sheltered and cared for 13 expectant mothers, none of whom delivered during this period, GMH said in a statement.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero declared COR 1 Sundayin anticipation of Champi, which passed 10 miles south of Guam today.

“Everybody’s very concerned about the stability of the hospital,” the governor said during her afternoon visit to GMH after Champi’s passage. “No major issues, no major injuries, no waterfalls in the hospital.”

GMH said three patients received typhoon-related care in the Emergency Department: one for a wind-related fall resulting in minor injuries, one for a medication refill due to pharmacy closures and one for high blood pressure while preparing for the storm. All three were discharged after treatment.

“They’ve done a really good job to stabilise the hospital. And so we continue to make sure that we provide quality health care for our island and our people. I just want to remind people that we are still in core one,” the governor said.

GMH bore the brunt of previous typhoons, which caused major flooding, water leaks and patient displacements.

“We were adequately staffed thanks to advanced coordination between departments,” Lujan said. “The hospital weathered very well this time compared to Bavi and Sinlaku.”

GMH said roof and exterior weatherproofing helped strengthen the hospital’s storm readiness. 

Only minor water leaks and power fluctuations were reported, with no loss of power or major facility or safety incidents. 

Generator power was activated ahead of the storm’s closest approach to support continuous operations.

“Hospital is receiving patients. We are pretty busy right now. At the emergency department, there may be a wait, so we are going to ask the community for your patience,” said Dr Joleen Aguon, GMH administrator…PACNEWS

SOL – SEA LEVEL RISE/CLIMATE CHANGE: TAVULI NEWS        PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Low sea levels raise concerns for Marine Life in Marovo lagoon

HONIARAM 19 OCTOBER 3026 (TAVULI NEWS)—Marovo Lagoon in Western Province could face increased environmental risks as unusually low sea levels affect parts of Solomon Islands, according to the country’s meteorological service.

The lagoon, known for its extensive double-barrier reef system, is among the areas experiencing lower-than-normal sea levels associated with El Niño conditions.

In a statement issued last Friday, the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service said satellite observations showed significantly below-average sea levels around Santa Isabel, New Georgia and Marovo.

Measurements from the Tarekukure Wharf tide gauge also recorded water levels about 30 centimetres below predicted tides.

The service said the conditions were consistent with patterns observed during previous El Niño events and could persist over the coming months.

The meteorological service warned that lower sea levels could reduce the natural movement of water between enclosed lagoons and the open ocean.

In Marovo Lagoon, less water passing over surrounding reef barriers during tidal cycles could slow circulation and reduce the natural flushing of lagoon waters.

Satellite observations have also detected increased chlorophyll concentrations along parts of the coastline.

Chlorophyll is found in microscopic marine plants known as phytoplankton, which are a natural part of marine ecosystems.

However, unusually high concentrations may indicate conditions that encourage algal blooms.

When large amounts of organic material break down, the process can use up oxygen in the water, placing fish and other marine organisms under stress.

In severe cases, this may contribute to localised fish deaths.

The meteorological service referred to a recent fish mortality incident in Marovo but did not establish whether low sea levels or reduced oxygen caused the deaths.

It also reported that sea surface temperatures in the affected areas were near normal or slightly cooler than average, suggesting that a marine heatwave was not driving the observed changes.

Instead, reduced water circulation, changes in natural nutrient movement and other environmental processes may be contributing factors.

El Niño occurs when the trade winds that normally push warm surface waters towards the western Pacific weaken.

This allows ocean waters to shift towards the central and eastern Pacific, causing sea levels in parts of the western Pacific, including Solomon Islands, to fall.

The meteorological service said El Niño was well established and expected to strengthen towards the end of 2026 and into early 2027.

It warned that lower-than-normal sea levels could continue during this period, potentially affecting other enclosed reef and lagoon systems across the country.

Coastal communities and resource managers have been advised to remain alert to possible environmental impacts.

The service said continued monitoring of sea levels, water quality and marine ecosystems would be important to understanding and responding to changing conditions…..PACNEWS

FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI TIMES                           PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

NextGen unveils public service delivery plan

SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Filling vacant frontline positions in hospitals, schools and police stations would take priority over creating new government offices under a NextGen Alliance Party government, party leader Apisai Caginakana Moce said.

Moce said the party would not impose broad salary cuts on civil servants but would focus spending on workers delivering essential services.

“The answer is not a blunt cut across 40,000 public servants,” he said.

The party would retain the existing A to O civil service salary bands while prioritising teachers, nurses, midwives, police, corrections officers and rural and maritime workers.

“Protect the front line, pay seniors for results, and make the existing budget buy a filled shift.”

NextGen also plans to publish quarterly information on funded and filled posts in health, education and police, including whether staff members are paid on time.

“A vacant funded nursing post is wasted budget, not savings.”

The party’s first 100 days would focus on cutting political privileges, addressing the cost of living and strengthening health, drugs and family services.

“The systems that stop leakage, fill a funded post and pay a teacher who is already at work can be switched on in 100 days.”

NextGen also proposes digital procurement, public disclosure of contract awards and beneficial ownership information for winning firms.

Moce said government performance should be measured by services delivered rather than the number of launches.

“Service delivery will be judged by a short public dashboard, not by the number of launches,” he said…PACNEWS

FRANCE – RIOTS: BBC NEWS                      PACNEWS 3: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Macron calls for ‘calm and order’ after riots across France

PARIS, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (BBC NEWS) —French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “calm and order” after a major day of protests turned into rioting and looting on Saturday, and as some disorder continued in Paris on Sunday.

In a national address from the Élysée Palace, he warned those who had taken part not to “escalate”, adding: “We all feel anger and shame.”

Some 550,000 demonstrators took to the streets for largely peaceful protests against rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services, including schools.

Macron said a distinction must be drawn between the “legitimate demands” of protesters and “those who destroyed, smashed and looted”.

Police have arrested about 2,400 people, according to France’s interior ministry.

The French president said “nothing justifies” the “unbridled” violence seen and said those involved would face justice.

Groups of rioters, some dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas, also came out in Paris, Marseille and other towns and cities, with some setting fire to cars and buildings.

On Sunday, looting and clashes with police continued on a smaller scale in parts of the capital and Lyon.

Tear gas and stun grenades were fired at hundreds of people in Paris, according to the AFP news agency, and bottles and rocks were again hurled at police.

Sunday saw cities across the country confront the impact of what developed into one of the worst bouts of disorder in modern French history.

In Limoges, the ornate 19th Century city hall was gutted by a fire started by rioters on Saturday, its clock tower and roof collapsing and the flames took hold.

Speaking near the ruined building, Annèyse said: “This is very upsetting. Harming heritage buildings just because you are angry at the government is selfish, I think. It’s hurting everybody.”

“It’s awful and unbelievable,” said another man who gave his name as Gerrard. “We are very sad and I think it will be a long time to put it back as it was before.”

Shopkeepers were seen early on Sunday morning picking up large shards of glass in Paris as rubbish trucks cleared up debris on some of the larger streets.

Widespread looting took place across the cities of Paris, Marseille and Lille, as well as other areas.

Macron said local prefects and mayors would draft measures to protect shops and civic buildings.

The president also said there would be “full transparency” over the police response to the demonstrations.

Tear gas and water cannon were turned on crowds over the weekend and riot police were seen hitting people with batons in several places.

France’s interior ministry said about 1,000 police officers were injured on Saturday, seven of them seriously.

Student protests which began last month escalated significant on Saturday after they were joined by trade union members and other anti-government groups.

The response from political figures has pointed to France’s deep political divisions as the country prepares for an election in April which could see the hard-right pitted against the hard-left.

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that while demonstrating was a fundamental right, there were “outrages” committed by ‘several thousand far-left individuals” who were determined to target public buildings and confront the police.

Later, they were joined by “delinquents who looted and ransacked numerous businesses in several cities in France”, he said.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon – leader of the hard-left La France Insoumise party – heavily criticised Nuñez and police chiefs on social media.

He said they had “shown complete incompetence” with their handling of the demonstrations and called them “specialists in organised chaos”.

Meanwhile, the leader of the hard-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, condemned the “exploitation” of anger “by political forces that encourage violence” …PACNEWS

PACNEWS BIZ

KIRIBATI – ECONOMY: PACNEWS            PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 19 Oct 2026

IMF warns of fiscal risks as Kiribati growth slows to three percent

WASHINGTON/TARAWA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Kiribati’s economic growth is expected to slow to 3 percent this year, down from 4.3 percent in 2025, as high operating costs, global uncertainty and pressure on state-owned enterprises weigh on the economy, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Following a staff visit published on 16 October, the IMF said Kiribati had remained resilient despite a challenging external environment, but warned that fiscal pressures and exposure to global financial markets posed risks to the country’s economic outlook.

Growth in 2026 is expected to be supported by public spending and construction, although businesses continue to face high operating costs and shortages of skilled workers.

Inflation has eased significantly, with average inflation projected to fall to 2.5 percent this year from 5.9 percent in 2025. End-year inflation is estimated at 3.7 percent.

The IMF attributed the decline to the fading effects of fuel and electricity price increases in 2025, lower international prices, a stronger Australian dollar and reductions in administered prices for selected food items.

However, the Fund said fiscal policy was expected to be expansionary this year, with the overall deficit projected to widen by 2.8 percentage points of gross domestic product (GDP).

The increase reflects supplementary government spending, including a land rent subsidy and additional funding for government operations, as well as continued financing pressures on state-owned enterprises amid elevated international oil prices.

Development expenditure is estimated at 52 percent of GDP, largely financed by external grants equivalent to 40 percent of GDP.

The IMF said fishing revenues remained volatile, while profitability in the sector had declined because of higher intermediate costs.

Despite the fiscal pressures, Kiribati’s financial buffers remain substantial.

The Revenue Equalisation Reserve Fund (RERF) is projected to reach AUD$1.72 billion (US$1.19 billion) by the end of 2026, equivalent to 302.3 percent of GDP.

However, equities now account for more than 60 percent of the fund’s portfolio, increasing its exposure to potential global market corrections.

Public external debt is estimated at 7.7 percent of GDP at the end of this year, although the IMF expects it to rise substantially over the medium term.

The Fund warned that prolonged geopolitical tensions, higher commodity and shipping costs, weaker fishing revenues and reduced development assistance could further strain the country’s fiscal and external balances.

It also cautioned that adverse global market movements could reduce returns on the RERF and limit financing available for public investment.

To address these risks, the IMF called for gradual, growth-friendly fiscal consolidation over the medium term, supported by credible revenue and expenditure measures while protecting priority development and climate spending.

If international oil prices remain high, domestic fuel prices should be adjusted gradually towards cost recovery, with temporary and targeted assistance provided to vulnerable households.

The IMF also recommended strengthening revenue collection, reducing tax expenditures and improving the efficiency of recurrent government spending when economic conditions permit.

It said a rules-based approach to withdrawals from the RERF, integrated into a medium-term fiscal framework, would help preserve the fund’s long-term value while allowing the Government to respond to economic shocks.

Beyond fiscal policy, the IMF highlighted the need for better reporting and oversight of fisheries joint ventures to improve economic statistics and assess government revenue, tax concessions and potential fiscal risks.

Although some joint ventures submit financial statements to the tax authority, confidentiality restrictions limit wider access to the information needed to assess production, pricing, profits and payments to the Government.

The Fund said stronger reporting arrangements and appropriate information-sharing between government agencies would improve transparency while protecting legally confidential information.

It also noted progress in infrastructure development, including an operational desalination plant, ongoing sanitation and road projects, and solar power facilities with a combined capacity of 7.5 megawatts moving towards full operation.

These investments are expected to strengthen water security and improve electricity supply reliability.

The IMF said access to financial services was also expanding through direct payment of social benefits into bank accounts and wider use of digital payments. However, lending remained constrained by gaps in land-title records and borrower information, while limited supervisory resources continued to hamper comprehensive monitoring of financial risks.

The Fund emphasised that continued investment in public financial management, revenue administration, debt management, financial supervision and economic statistics would be important to strengthen resilience.

The IMF’s findings are preliminary and will inform a report to be prepared by staff, subject to management approval, for consideration by the Fund’s Executive Board. …PACNEWS

FIJI – MARTIME SURVEILLENCE: NZDF                                                                         PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Uncrewed Navy vessels monitor maritime traffic around Fiji

SUVA/AUCKLAND, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (NZDF)—A joint operation involving the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) and Fijian authorities has demonstrated how a “persistent presence” in an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) can help separate the normal from the criminal.

At the request of the Government of Fiji, the jointly owned RNZN and Customs Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) Tahi and Rua carried out a four-week deployment in the waters of Fiji’s EEZ.

The USVs were delivered to Nadi by a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules. They were then transported by road to Vuda Marina to be launched.

Together, the USVs identified 137 vessels of interest that required additional scrutiny during a 24/7 surveillance of known maritime routes.

Powered by a combination of wave, solar and wind energy, the USVs can remain at sea for weeks at a time, operating around the clock without requiring resupply to provide a persistent maritime surveillance capability.

Equipped with an array of high-tech surveillance, positioning and photographic systems, Tahi and Rua continuously report their location and observations back to a monitoring centre.

This operation’s intent was “pattern of life”, enabling the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to develop a clearer understanding of activity across the region, including volume and patterns of maritime traffic.

The insights generated may, in the future, assist Fiji in identifying vessels that do not conform, allowing an interception, boarding and thorough search.

Intelligence on suspicious vessels sourced by NZCS may also be passed to RNZN controllers in a monitoring centre. A USV could be moved to areas where vessels of interest are known to operate or where illicit cargo may be transferred.

Fiji’s Maritime Essential Services Centre (MESC) in Suva is assessing the information obtained by the USVs during this operation.

MESC director Lemeki Lenoa says there is considerable interest in developing both crewed and uncrewed approaches to combat the importation of narcotics into Fiji.

“The ultimate goal is to ensure we have persistent presence, feeding back here into the MESC,” he said.

“Not only do the USVs help us address issues around manning, but it allows us to address the fuel crisis, because they are completely green-powered.

“We can deploy them into areas to help understand what is happening in our maritime domain, and that helps us – Navy, Customs, Fisheries, Police – develop capabilities and capacity to better respond to threats.”

The MESC was designed to bring partner agencies and nationalities under one roof, to address shared challenges in the region, he said.

“With all the support we’ve received so far, it’s helped us achieve actionable, tangible outcomes, by being able to provide intelligence or information to our partner agencies who can then prosecute these cases successfully in court.”

Chief of the Fijian Navy, Commodore Timoci Natuva, says the technology is an important addition to Fiji’s maritime surveillance capabilities.

“This technology is fundamental in supporting Fiji’s fisheries and border surveillance, environmental monitoring and the protection of the country’s extensive maritime domain,” Commodore Natuva said.

“Illegal narcotics entering our country is causing so much harm and misery to our people, so any means to combat this is beneficial to the nation.”

The operation builds on the strong defence and security relationship between New Zealand and Fiji. The Duavata Partnership, signed by the two countries in 2022, identifies defence cooperation, maritime security, border protection, capability development and responses to transnational threats as shared priorities.

NZDF Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Shane Arndell, says the deployment of Tahi and Rua is proof-positive of New Zealand’s commitment to the partnership.

“And it is not just because it delivers practical security outcomes for Fiji,”” Commodore Arndell said.

“Anything we can do to disrupt the supply of narcotics into our Pacific Island neighbours is also proven to disrupt supply into New Zealand.”

The USVs have now been transported back to New Zealand, ready for their next tasking…. PACNEWS

FIJI – KAVA INDUSTRY: FIJI SUN                PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Can the new Kava Bill stop thieves? Farmers want answers

SOMOSOMO, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Increasing kava theft continues to concern people on Taveuni Island, with farmers telling a parliamentary committee that their crops have been stolen without those responsible being brought to justice.

Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights chairperson Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure received the concerns while concluding two public consultations on the Yaqona (Kava) Bill 2026 on the island last week.

Vuna district representative Laisiasa Tuimouta said farms had been targeted by thieves for years, with no arrests or consequences for those responsible.

He asked how the proposed Bill would protect farmers from theft.

“Farmers work hard for many years and to have their crops stolen by thieves after three or four years is just not fair,” Tuimouta said.

“We know the Police have done their job when we report to them, but no one is taken to task.”

Another yaqona farmer Bernadette Tikotikoca said she had also been a victim of theft.

“Yaqona farming is the only source of income, and it’s not easy working on the farm and then knowing some thieves have stolen the fruit of our hard work,” Tikotikoca said.

“It’s really heartbreaking and painful.”

Villagers suggested banning the sale of green kava to help protect their farms.

However, Taveuni kava exporter Krishna Reddy said green kava was sold in local and international markets for pharmaceutical purposes.

In response, Vakalalabure said registering farmers would help authorities trace kava sales through individual registration numbers.

“So, if you sell your kava and the authority wants to know which farmer or farmers sold to an exporter, they will check the registration number and identify the farmer, exporter and importer,” Vakalalabure said.

He said enforcement officers could use the registration system to trace sales after a theft was reported and identify farmers who had sold kava to exporters or local markets during the relevant period.

He added that registering kava businesses would help protect farmers and communities while supporting quality and safety.

Meanwhile, Tutu Rural Training Centre principal director Father Petero Matairatu urged the committee to make the Bill inclusive.

He called for young people and women to be included in the proposed Fiji Yaqona Council and Kava Working Group.

“Youths are our leaders of today, they are the now, not tomorrow,” Matairatu said…..PACNEWS

FIJI – CYBER SECURITY: PACNEWS           PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Fiji Government assesses reported cybersecurity incident

SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Fiji Ministry of Policing and Communications is assessing a reported cybersecurity incident involving a regional organisation based in Suva.

The Ministry said the Fiji Computer Emergency Response Team (Fiji CERT) was monitoring developments and had established contact with the organisation to coordinate an appropriate response.

The Ministry urged government agencies, businesses and civil society organisations to remain vigilant, strengthen their cybersecurity safeguards and monitor their networks for suspicious activity.

It also called on organisations and individuals to report suspected cyberattacks promptly to Fiji CERT.

The Ministry said it was premature to comment further on the specific details of the incident as assessments continued….PACNEWS

VAN – AIRLINE: PACNEWS                       PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 19 Oct 2026

Air Vanuatu’s fifth Twin Otter cleared for flight home

PORT VILA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Air Vanuatu is preparing to bring home its fifth Twin Otter aircraft as the airline continues efforts to rebuild its domestic fleet and improve inter-island connectivity.

Air Vanuatu chairman Robin Deamer and airline engineer Nick Tavner are travelling from Florida, United States, with the aircraft expected to arrive in Vanuatu next weekend.

Tavner has spent the past three weeks working alongside the aircraft’s maintenance team in Florida to gain hands-on knowledge of its systems and construction.

The experience is expected to strengthen the technical capabilities of Air Vanuatu’s engineering team and support local aircraft maintenance.

The aircraft has completed the required tests and received clearance from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Deamer said the airline had taken lessons from its first Twin Otter acquisition earlier this year and was confident the latest aircraft was ready for service.

The aircraft will enter domestic operations once the necessary local permits and approvals have been secured following its arrival.

The addition is part of Air Vanuatu’s efforts to restore reliable domestic air services and improve connections between Vanuatu’s islands……PACNEWS

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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS

Warming ocean and the silent battle beneath the surface

By Koroi Tadulala

SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (SPC)—Months have passed since El Niño was declared across the Pacific, and its effects are being felt far and wide.  

At the same time, the United Nations Environment Programme’s Limiting Overshoot report highlights the increasing likelihood of temporarily exceeding 1.5°C of global warming and warns that higher peak temperatures increase the risk of irreversible impacts.  

Current El Niño conditions provide a clear example of how natural climate variability is interacting with an already warming ocean, resulting in unusually high ocean temperatures across parts of the Pacific.

Most Pacific communities are experiencing drought, damaged crops, and shrinking water supplies with reports from several countries that points to drought and frost damage in parts of Papua New Guinea, water scarcity in parts of Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga among other countries and agricultural losses that are placing increasing pressure on livelihoods and food security.

While these impacts are visible above ground, there is a silent battle happening beneath our ocean’s surface. Throughout the vast stretches of our Pacific Ocean, unusually warm ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific and cooling in the western Pacific are altering marine conditions in ways that are less visible but equally significant. 

International concern over the warming Pacific has also been raised at the highest levels.

“El Niño is being supersised before our eyes. The science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up,” said  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Ocean temperatures have remained well above normal for several months, with coral bleaching alerts now active across much of the region. Scientists warn that sustained ocean warming is placing coral reef ecosystems under increasing stress.

The figure shows the unusual weather conditions manifesting across the Pacific, which deviate from historical observations (anomaly) and show the strength of the current El Niño.  

Pacific Community’s (SPC) Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) Division scientist Dr Victor Odongo explains:

“Tunas are highly sensitive to changes in their environment and each species is adapted to specific temperature ranges, oxygen levels, and of course, prey abundance. When El Niño pushes species’ ideal conditions across the ocean, the tuna follow by moving to different latitudes, longitudes, and depths,” said Dr Odongo.

As warm ocean temperatures shift from the western Pacific towards central and eastern Pacific, tuna stocks move eastwards as well, following favourable environmental conditions for their survival. This large-scale migration is reshaping fishing activity across the vast Blue Pacific. 

The movement of tuna stock also drives the movement of fishing fleets, as vessels follow the fish into new grounds of the central and eastern Pacific. This results in a decline in commercial purse-seine catches, (a fishing method that catches large groups of tuna by encircling them with a large net) in western Pacific countries such as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Consequently, these countries earn less money from fishing licences and commercial fishing. At the same time, local fishers need to travel farther to find fish, spending more on fuel and facing increased risks at sea. 

On the other hand, Kiribati, an atoll nation spread across a vast area of the central Pacific, has enjoyed increasing fishing activity for the past months. Its fishing industry generates 70 percent of the country’s revenue – the highest proportion by any nation.

For a country comprised of small, widely dispersed atolls, the tuna industry represents a vital economic lifeline. 

“Our monthly Ocean Outlook provides insights that help generate economic activity at the national level. Through the Pacific Ocean Portal supported by the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac), we’re able to identify hotspots for fishing activities within our exclusive economic zone which attracts international fishing vessels, and this is where most of our government revenue comes from,”said Ueneta Toorua, Director of the Kiribati Meteorological Service.

These country-specific National Monthly Ocean Outlooks are developed through a series of capacity-building workshops led by SPC and co-designed with national ocean stakeholders, coordinated through the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). This collaborative process combines scientific expertise, local knowledge, and user needs to produce tailored ocean information that supports decision-making across sectors. 

According to the latest forecasts presented through the COSPPac Monthly Climate and Ocean Bulletin, increased tuna fishing activity is expected to continue across central and eastern Pacific, including Nauru, Kiribati, Tokelau and Tuvalu, throughout the latter part of 2026. 

However, the benefits are not without challenges. Kiribati has also experienced months of heavy rainfall linked to El Niño causing flooding across parts of the country, inundating major roads and low-lying coastal communities. 

While tuna-rich waters create economic opportunities in some areas, the environmental consequences of warmer ocean temperatures are becoming increasingly evident. Rising ocean temperatures increase the likelihood of marine heatwaves and prolonged coral bleaching events, threatening important coastal habitats. 

“These episodic warming events can trigger a domino effect: rising fish mortality, crippled coastal tourism, and severe damage to local aquaculture infrastructures and cultured organisms increase the risks of economic losses,” said Dr Victor Odongo, Pacific Community.

The effects extend well beyond coral reefs. As habitats deteriorate, populations of reef fish can decline, reducing food availability for local communities that depend on coastal fisheries. 

SPC’s Ocean Science Officer, Dr Moleni Tu’uholoaki stresses that current monitoring shows that El Niño conditions are expected to persist over the coming months, with forecasts indicating the event could continue through February 2027. 

For fisheries, this means the eastward redistribution of tuna stocks is likely to continue, bringing increased fishing effort and transhipment activity across the central Pacific, particularly around Kiribati and neighbouring atoll nations. 

At the same time, elevated ocean temperatures are expected to maintain pressure on coral reefs and marine ecosystems across much of the Blue Pacific. 

Dr Odongo points to successful frameworks like the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, which cooperatively manages the regional purse-seine fishery, as a blueprint for navigating El Niño’s uneven impacts across the Pacific.

“Ultimately, safeguarding the Pacific will require helping local communities diversify their livelihoods, ensuring that the periodic ocean changes don’t hang their survival in the balance.” 

As countries grapple with varying impacts of El Nino, the coming months will present a complex picture for our Blue Pacific. While some nations may benefit from increased fisheries revenue, others will continue to face risks of prolonged drought, water shortages, ecosystem degradation, and mounting climate-related risks. 

While El Niño evolves, so does the continued monitoring of ocean conditions through tools such as the Pacific Ocean Portal, a key tool used by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to monitor sea-surface temperatures, and access coral bleaching and marine heatwave outlook, chlorophyll concentration information amongst a range of other products that help inform national preparedness and response…PACNEWS