By Sanjeshni Kumar SUVA, 13 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—A landmark treaty to protect biodiversity on the high seas has entered into force, but scientists warn that much of the deep-sea life it seeks to conserve remains unknown. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which entered into force earlier this year after being ratified by more […]
Tag: ocean governance
Posted inOpinion
The Pacific Does Not Need Another Climate Eulogy
Jack Huang / Consultant Last week, I attended the SB64 climate meetings in Bonn on behalf of the Global SDGs Alliance (GSA). In the corridors, side events and technical dialogues, one fact became difficult to ignore: the Pacific is no longer asking the world merely to recognize its vulnerability. It is demanding a different architecture […]
Posted inIn Focus
Experts say ‘bare bones’ U.S laws are unfit to regulate nascent deep-sea mining industry
By Elizabeth Claire Alberts WASHINGTON, 11 JUNE 2026 (MONGABAY) — The deep-sea mining industry could launch in the near future in U.S federal waters. Yet legal experts and former government officials warn that the regulations that would govern this industry are outdated and lack important oversight provisions. In April 2025, the Trump administration signaled its […]
Posted inBillboard
World Oceans Day Highlights Pacific’s Deep Connection to the Ocean
By: Ngeldei Tulop From Palau to Polynesia, Pacific Island nations marked World Oceans Day on Monday by emphasizing the importance of protecting marine resources as climate change and other environmental pressures continue to affect ocean ecosystems. For Pacific Island nations, the ocean serves as more than a source of food and economic activity. It is […]
Posted inTop Stories
Palau to Co-Chair First Global Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo
KOROR, Palau — President Surangel Whipps Jr. will co-chair the inaugural Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo next week, bringing together leaders from around 30 island nations to address climate resilience, ocean governance and sustainable management of marine resources. The June 3-4 summit, hosted by The Nippon Foundation in partnership with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign […]
Posted inBillboard
Technology Must Be Affordable, Reliable for Small Islands,’ Palau President Urges at World Ocean Summit
By: Laurel Marewibuel KOROR palau — President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of Palau called Thursday for “sustained collaboration and equitable access to technology” as cornerstones of ocean governance, delivering the keynote at the 13th World Ocean Summit hosted by The Economist. Speaking for Small Island Developing States battered by climate change, Whipps insisted tech solutions […]