Sports
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Guam, CNMI Seek 120-Day Extension to Study Deep-Sea Mining Near the Marianas
Guam and CNMI leaders push for a longer, more thorough review of a plan to open deep-sea areas near the Marianas to mining. They warn of potential environmental, cultural, and cross‑island impacts and call for broad scientific input before any decisions are made.
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Markets Force WCPFC Toward Transparent Pacific Tuna Rules
Growing market pressure from major retailers is reshaping how Pacific tuna is managed, pushing for transparent systems and stronger accountability as regional talks unfold.
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High-Seas Transshipment Ban Could Redefine Pacific Tuna Governance
Transparency gaps in distant-water fishing are shaping the fate of South Pacific tuna. A push to ban high-seas transshipment could push operations into coastal zones, delivering tighter oversight and broader benefits to local communities.
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Lorin Robert: The Quiet Architect of Pacific Fisheries Governance
Remembering Lorin Robert, a longtime FSM diplomat whose four-decade career shaped Pacific fisheries governance and regional cooperation. This tribute highlights his quiet leadership and enduring impact on conservation and dialogue across the Pacific.
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Albacore at a Tipping Point: Will WCPFC Save the $1B Pacific Market?
Manila hosts a pivotal moment for the billion-dollar South Pacific albacore fishery, as officials weigh a modern harvest framework to replace aging rules. With MSC certification and premium markets on the line, experts warn that inaction could ripple through Pacific economies and sustainability-minded consumers.
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One in Three Women Face Violence: A Global Call to Action
One in three women will experience violence in her lifetime, a stark reminder that this crisis knows no borders. A fresh call for urgent action outlines steps to reform laws, empower women, and safeguard rights, challenging us to turn promises into real safety and equality. It’s a powerful reminder that progress depends on all of…
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WCPFC 2025 Budget Under Strain as Member Contributions Lag
Financial strains loom as almost a third of WCPFC member contributions remain unpaid for 2025. With critical monitoring, stock assessments, and compliance work at stake, growing voluntary support is stepping in—yet it can’t replace core funding.
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Papua New Guinea and Federated States of Micronesia Forge Maritime Boundary Treaty
Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia have ratified a landmark maritime boundary treaty, establishing defined rights to explore and manage shared sea resources. The accord signals a new era of cooperation and sustainable use of living and non-living resources across their adjoining waters.
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Manila Meeting Under Scrutiny: Can the WCPFC Deliver on Harvest Strategies?
As Manila hosts a pivotal WCPFC gathering, observers warn that delays on science-based harvest strategies could spark a credibility crisis for the regional fisheries regulator. Obstruction and accountability questions threaten to derail progress on tuna conservation, with implications for the global supply.
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Pacific Tuna Under Scrutiny: Will On-Water Monitoring Redefine the Supply Chain?
A leading conservation group is pressing a regional fisheries forum to speed up on-water monitoring for tuna fleets, arguing that credible data is essential to protect stocks and ensure transparent seafood. The plan highlights electronic monitoring, expanded longline oversight, and stronger seabird and FAD rules, backed by new funding for AI-powered analysis of monitoring footage.…
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Manila Summit Eyes South Pacific Albacore Harvest Strategy
Manila hosts a turning point for the Pacific tuna industry as negotiators push a long-awaited harvest strategy for South Pacific albacore. The move could stabilize a multibillion-dollar economy and the communities that rely on longline fisheries, even as rising costs and global competition threaten momentum. The outcome could reshape how the region manages its most…
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New Zealand Sevens Stuns Australia in Dubai with a Clean Sweep
New Zealand bursts onto the SVNS World Series in Dubai with a commanding start, setting the tone for the season in both the women’s and men’s divisions. Expect relentless defense, explosive moments, and rising stars shaking up the trans-Tasman rivalry as the action unfolds.
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ICJ Climate Ruling Sparks Indigenous-Led Pacific Justice Movement
From Pacific shores to The Hague, Indigenous knowledge is becoming a legal beacon for climate justice. A landmark ICJ ruling and a Right Livelihood Award spotlight a growing movement to protect land, sea, and culture—driven by communities fighting for their futures. How could this redefine accountability in a warming world?
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Marshall Islands urges WCPFC22 for bold reforms to protect SIDS tuna lifelines
At a pivotal regional fisheries forum, the Marshall Islands pushes for reforms it says are vital to its security, economy, and future survival—centered on tuna resources and the livelihoods of Pacific island nations. As negotiators weigh monitoring, transshipment rules, and science-based harvest strategies, the outcome could reshape the region’s economic lifelines and sovereignty.
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CNMI Calls for SIDS Inclusion in South Pacific Albacore Talks at WCPFC22
CNMI delivers a bold, time-sensitive call for action on South Pacific albacore, stressing inclusive decision-making for Small Island Developing States. Rooted in cultural stewardship and a vision of sustained collaboration, it hints at a future where Pacific fisheries thrive for generations.
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Tuvalu Urges Tougher Tuna Rules at WCPFC22, Highlights Transshipments
Tuvalu steps into WCPFC22 with a wake-up call for tougher, more credible tuna regulations. The push covers albacore management, FAD-tracking, and curbing high-seas transshipments—aimed at protecting vital stocks and the communities that rely on them, while urging science-led, balanced decisions.
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PNG Demands Fair Tuna Rules at WCPFC22
Pacific nations push back against burdensome fisheries rules as PNG’s minister outlines how tuna sustains communities—from schools to clinics. With climate impacts already shifting stocks, leaders urge fair, science-based management that protects Small Island Developing States’ rights and sovereignty. A push for port-based transshipment aims to curb IUU fishing while keeping benefits for local livelihoods.
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High-Stakes Week for Pacific Tuna as WCPFC Advances South Pacific Albacore Management
With eight years of groundwork behind them, negotiators gather at WCPFC22 in Manila to push toward a consensus on the South Pacific Albacore Management Procedure, a key step for harvest strategies and the region’s vital tuna resource. The week unfolds under economic pressures on longline fleets and mounting market expectations, setting the stage for decisions…
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WCPFC22: Critical Push to Finalize South Pacific Albacore Rules
Manila hosts a decisive week for the Pacific’s tuna heartland, as talks resume on a long-stalled plan to safeguard South Pacific albacore. With stocks under careful watch and communities depending on the yield, the decisions taken could shape the region’s fisheries—and the global tuna supply—for years to come.
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Philippines Hosts WCPFC22 as Tuna Harvest Strategy Takes Center Stage
Manila hosts pivotal talks on the future of tuna stocks in the Western and Central Pacific, tackling conservation, monitoring, and a long-awaited harvest strategy. With stakeholders seeking common ground, the event underscores the Philippines’ commitment to sustainable fisheries and a watershed moment for coastal communities.
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Panama seeks reflagging of five purse-seine vessels at WCPFC
Panama is asking the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to approve a reflagging plan for several purse-seine vessels, shifting them from Ecuador to Panama. The bid is pitched as administrative, promising no rise in fishing effort or disruption to coastal-state controls, and aiming to strengthen governance and sustainable management of the region’s tuna fleets.
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WCPFC22 Transshipment Talks: Pacific Chair Seeks Consensus on High-Seas Rules
A pivotal week of negotiations tests whether consensus can be found on high-seas transshipment. Dr. Josie Tamate navigates time pressures, stubborn differences, and new proposals as calls for tougher monitoring and enforcement heat up the debate. The outcome could reshape sustainable fishing for years to come.
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Rugby World Cup 2027 Expands to 24 Teams in Six-Pool Format
Rugby’s biggest chapter yet is taking shape as the 2027 World Cup unveils a bold six-pool format for 24 teams. With a global stage expanding and thrilling matchups on the horizon, excitement is building for a record-breaking showdown that could redefine the sport. The countdown to a new era has begun, hinting at drama, upsets,…
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Pacific Nations Push Albacore Talks at WCPFC22 in Manila
At WCPFC22 in Manila, the Parties to the Nauru Agreement are steering high-stakes proposals, with the South Pacific albacore plan taking center stage. The PNA’s push highlights Pacific leadership in sustainable tuna governance, balancing conservation with the livelihoods of communities across the Western Pacific.
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SBMI Urges WCPFC to End At-Sea Transshipment and Expand Observer Coverage under New Labor Standards
Indonesian migrant workers’ union SBMI is urging a major fisheries meeting to end at-sea transshipment and boost observer coverage to protect crews. They’re also pushing for urgent action on new labor standards to curb abuses aboard distant-water vessels, arguing that people’s safety is essential to sustainable fisheries.
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Fiji Bets on Depth and Planning for Rugby World Cup 2027 Amid New Format
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup approaching, Fiji is shifting to a longer-term plan that prioritizes squad depth and smarter player management. The new format—featuring a shorter pool and a Round of 16—puts a premium on recovery and rotation for four intense knockout-style matches. Drawn in Pool C with Argentina, Spain, and Canada, the Flying…
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WCPFC22 Sparks Rift Over South Pacific Albacore Harvest Rules
– At WCPFC22, French Polynesia pushes back against a key harvest-control proposal, warning it could threaten livelihoods across the South Pacific albacore value chain. As negotiators weigh safeguards and communities’ needs, the future of the fishery hangs in the balance. – Tensions flare as French territories challenge proposed albacore management rules, arguing the measures could…
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Hidden Climate Shifts Could Redraw the Pacific Tuna Fishery
Warmer seas and a surge in marine heatwaves are reshaping the Western and Central Pacific’s tuna ecosystem. As climate patterns shift, tuna behavior and stocks could be changing in real time, prompting a new wave of climate-aware management ideas.
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Countdown to 2026: WCPFC weighs bigeye tuna management overhaul
Crucial decisions loom as officials weigh a new management framework for bigeye tuna that must be in place by 2026. With high-stakes questions on reference points, FAD closures, and catches outside the framework, the coming days could reshape the future of Pacific fisheries and the communities that depend on them.
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Tuvalu PM Teo Arrives in Taiwan for Six-Day Diplomacy Push
Tuvalu’s prime minister arrives in Taiwan for a six-day mission aimed at strengthening ties and expanding cooperation. As leaders convene and a regional delegation joins the talks, the visit signals a pivotal moment in Pacific diplomacy and the shifting balance of regional influence.