Occurrence and abundance of meso and microplastics in sediment, surface waters, and marine biota from the South Pacific region

Data on the occurrence and abundance of meso and microplastics for the South Pacific are limited and there is urgent need to fill this knowledge gap. The main aim of the study was to apply a rapid screening method, based on the fluorescence tagging of polymers using Nile red, to determine the concentration of meso and microplastics in biota, sediment and surface waters near the capital cities of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. A spatial investigation was carried out for sediment, biota and water as well as a temporal assessment for sediment for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018).

Sea Turtles in Oceania MTSG Annual Regional Report 2020

The 2020 IUCN/MTSG Regional Report for Sea Turtles in Oceania was recently finalized and approved. The report consists of 675 pages and was three years in the making.  There are 25 chapters written by 23 dedicated knowledgeable authors and coauthors.  For the purposes of this report, the Oceania Region was organized by the Regional Vice Chairs to contain 25 chapters comprising 15 Sea Turtle Regional Management Units...

The ‘Tonga State of Environment Report 2018’ highlights that collaborations between the Ministry of Fisheries and coastal communities in the implementation of Special Management Areas have contributed to the protection of marine species, and helped ensure that local communities maintain their abi