China Falls Short on Big Deal in South Pacific But Finds Smaller Wins
China fell short Monday on a bold plan to have 10 Pacific nations endorse a sweeping new agreement covering everything from security to fisheries as some in the region expressed deep concerns
But there have been plenty of smaller wins for China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi as he continues an island-hopping tour of the region.
Wang was in Fiji to co-host a key meeting with the foreign ministers from the 10 island nations. Continue reading here (Source: NPR).
Samoa Signs China Bilateral Agreement During Pacific Push by Beijing
Samoa signed a bilateral agreement with China on Saturday, promising “greater collaboration”, as Beijing’s foreign minister continues a tour of the Pacific that has sparked concern among western allies.
The deal’s details are unclear, and come midway through a Chinese delegation’s eight-nation trip – but an earlier leaked draft agreement sent to several Pacific countries outlined plans to expand security and economic engagement.
The mission has prompted western leaders to urge regional counterparts to spurn any Chinese attempt to extend its security reach across the region. Continue reading here(Source: The Guardian).
IOTC Blacklists Tuna Fleet With Record of IUU Fishing
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has blacklisted a fleet of tuna-fishing vessels after an Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) investigation revealed it has a previous record of engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The decision by the IOTC, made at its 26th session meeting in the Seychelles, was based on the investigation by the EJF that culminated in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna banning the vessels in December 2021. Later, the vessels – the Israr 1, 2 and 3 – were dropped by insurers in March 2022.
The ban on the fleet is expected to support initiatives to protect the Indian and Atlantic oceans from illegal operators, and tighten measures aimed at “safeguarding irreplaceable marine ecosystems,” the EJF said. Continue reading here (Source: SeafoodSource).
Quad Leaders Roll Out Major Initiative to Improve Monitoring Maritime Activities Across Indo-Pacific
Four-nation grouping Quad on Tuesday launched a major new initiative for the Indo-Pacific that allows the partner countries to fully monitor the waters on their shores and help ensure peace and stability in the region, a move that comes amid China’s increasingly intimidatory behaviour.
The announcement on the rollout of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) came at the end of the second in-person Quad summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
A joint statement by the four leaders said the IPMDA will support and work in consultation with Indo-Pacific nations and regional information fusion centres in the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands by providing technology and training to support shared maritime domain awareness to promote stability and prosperity. Continue reading here (Source: News 18).
IOTC Passes Resolution Tightening At-Sea Tuna Transshipment Rules
The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has passed a resolution aiming to improve the rules and oversight procedures on transshipment of tuna in the Indian Ocean.
The resolution, the text of which was slightly amended at the request of the Indonesian and Japanese delegations, was passed at the IOTC’s 26th session and associated meetings, held in Victoria, Seychelles, from 16 to 20 May. According to the commission, it is one step forward in combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing in the region.
According to the resolution, unchecked at-sea transshipment within the IOTC’s jurisdiction has been fueling organized tuna-laundering operations, with large amounts of tuna caught by vessels fishing illegally being transshipped under the auspices of licensed fishing vessels. Continue reading here (Source: SeafoodSource).
Groudbreaking: AI To Be Used in Monitoring Illegal Fishing in NZ
Newshub can reveal artificial intelligence (AI) will be used to monitor illegal fishing in New Zealand.
The Government’s signed a deal to use the technology as part of its cameras on boats rollout, with the gear capable of detecting fish being discarded or nets being hauled up.
A drone developed by AI company Qrious and MAUI63 has been using artificial intelligence to recognise a Māui dolphin and follow them. Similar gear – only fixed cameras – will eventually be used on 300 fishing vessels. Continue reading here(Source: Newshub).
