PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH SESSION hosted by the Government of Tuvalu, in Funafuti 22-30 October 2008 PACIFIC ISLANDS APPLIED GEOSCIENCE COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH SESSION hosted by the Government of Tuvalu in Funafuti 22-30 October 2008 June 2009 The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of SOPAC concerning the legal status of any country or territory or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of the frontiers of any country or territory. The mention of any firm or licensed process does not imply endorsement by SOPAC. 2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO SOPAC ................................................................................................................................4 OPENING ADDRESSES Opening Address by Honourable Apisai Ielemia, Prime Minister of Tuvalu .........................................................7 Reply to Opening Address & Outgoing Chair’s Remarks by Dr Sione Nailasikau Halatuituia, Secretary for Lands, Survey & Natural Resources & Environment of the Kingdom of Tonga ............................10 Opening Remarks by Ms Cristelle Pratt, Director of SOPAC ..............................................................................11 SUMMARY RECORD OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH SOPAC SESSION .................................................................13 APPENDICES 1 List of Participants .............................................................................................................................51 2 Agenda ...............................................................................................................................................56 3 Designation of National Representatives (as at May 2009) ................................................................58 4 Statements by Delegations Part I: Member Countries ..................................................................................................................60 Part II: CROP Organisations ..............................................................................................................77 Part III: Cooperating Governments, International Agencies & National Institutions ..........................81 5 STAR Chair’s Report to Council .........................................................................................................84 6 Programme Monitoring Evaluation Groups Reports and Associated Documentation ........................93 7 List of Conference Room Documents ...............................................................................................104 8 Acronyms .........................................................................................................................................106 3 INTRODUCTION TO SOPAC Objectives SOPAC was established in 1972 as CCOP/SOPAC (the The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Min- (SOPAC) is an independent, inter-governmental, regional eral Resources in South Pacific Offshore Areas) under the organisation mandated by several Pacific nations to: sponsorship of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). In 1984, • develop resource policy, and advise on the management CCOP/SOPAC changed its legal status to become an in- and development of onshore and offshore mineral and dependent, regional inter-governmental body, changing its aggregate resources; name to SOPAC (South Pacific Applied Geoscience Com- mission) in 1989. Another name change was decided in • meet the needs for water resources, waste manage- 2006 to “Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission” ment, health and sanitation through the provision of to better reflect the composition of the membership. resource policy and management advice, appropriate information and training; Funding SOPAC is funded by a combination of statutory and vol- • support the information requirements and enhance untary contributions by its member countries and grants the skills required for management and operation of from donor governments and international agencies. An the energy sector in member countries; annual budget of around F$30 million (in 2008) supports • assist decision makers and planners to develop coastal the implementation of the Work Programme and the opera- zones and extract resources while protecting them from tion of the Secretariat. degradation; Supporting countries include Australia, Fiji and New • predict the effects of hazards on the health, wealth and Zealand as members, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, development potential of member countries; Republic of Korea, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, United States and • assist decision makers and planners to understand the United Kingdom. The European Union, Commonwealth ocean processes, develop ocean areas and extract re- Secretariat and UNDP are the principal multilateral sup- sources while protecting oceans from over-exploitation porting agencies. SOPAC has formal and informal links and pollution; with many other supporting agencies and institutions. Member countries provide considerable support during • provide geoscientific and related education needs survey work, and ship time in the region is regularly through the provision of a variety of training and contributed by other countries such as the France, Japan education opportunities at all levels of geoscience and and Germany. resource management; SOPAC Annual Session • meet the demands for electronic information by mem- The SOPAC Annual Session is a meeting of the Commis- ber country governments and regional organisations sion, and has four components: to manage resources and risk; (a) a Plenary Session covers the procedural aspects of the • support National authorities in disaster management meeting and the presentation of reports from member activities through advice information; and countries, donor Governments and organisations, and the Secretariat. This session is a meeting of the • provide readily-available and current information in Council at which other delegates are invited as observ- geoscience and related fields to member countries and ers, contributing to the discussion of non-technical others. matters concerning SOPAC such as cooperation and Member Countries funding. Member countries are currently Australia, Cook Islands, (b) a joint meeting of the Council and the Technical Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Guam, Kiri- Advisory Group (TAG) to consider the SOPAC Work bati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Programme. All TAG members participate as equals Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom during this meeting. of Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. American Samoa, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Tokelau are Associate (c) a meeting of the Science Technology and Resources Members. Network (STAR ) which is an open forum for reporting geoscientific research in the Pacific and for exchanging Background information and ideas between scientists from SOPAC The Commission comprises the Governing Council (the Member Countries and the international geoscientific member country representatives), the Secretariat (based community. in Suva) and the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). TAG comprises advisors who are nominated by member coun- (d) a Governing Council meeting to discuss the administra- tries and by supporting Governments and organisations, tive and financial business of SOPAC, which may be or are invited by the Secretariat. open to observers who could speak when invited. The Commission’s Work Programme is formulated from See the Table on the next page for a summary of past member country requests, and is carried out by its Sec- SOPAC sessions. retariat based in Suva, Fiji Islands. 4 SUMMARY OF SOPAC ANNUAL SESSIONS Session Date Venue Chairman Vice-Chairman TAG Chairman Rapporteur(s) Preparatory Jul 1971 Manila, Philippines R.W. Willett, NZ — — — FIRST Nov 1972 Suva, FJ D. Green, FJ S. Tu’a Taumoepeau,TG R. Willett, NZ — SECOND Aug-Sep 1973 Nuku’alofa, TG S. Tongilava, TG R. Richmond, FJ R. Willett, NZ — THIRD Sep 1974 Apia, WS T. Enari, WS P. Mueller, WS J.W. Brodie, NZ — FOURTH Sep 1975 Honiara, SB R.B. Thompson, SB G. Sawtell, CK J.W. Brodie, NZ — FIFTH Nov 1976 Rarotonga, CK G. Sawtell, CK S. Tongilava, TG D. Kear, NZ — SIXTH Oct 1977 Port Moresby, PN N. Agonia, PN R. Richmond, FJ J.W. Brodie, NZ J. Wright, UK SEVENTH Oct 1978 Wellington, NZ D. Kear, NZ S. Kingan, CK J. Wright, UK G. Shepherd, TS EIGHT Sep-Oct 1979 Suva, FJ R. Richmond, FJ A. Macfarlane, VA M. Terman, US J. Wright, UK NINTH Oct 1980 Tarawa, KI T. Otang, KI A. Macfarlane, VA J. Wright, UK J. Eade, NZ TENTH Oct 1981 Port Vila, VA A. Macfarlane, VA S. Tongilava, TG J. Wright, UK J. Eade, NZ ELEVENTH Nov 1982 Wellington, NZ H. Thompson, NZ S. Tongilava, TG N. Exon, AU J. Eade, NZ TWELFTH Oct 1983 Nuku’alofa, TG S. Tongilava, TG L. Ioane, WS N. Exon, AU D. Howell, US; J. Eade, NZ THIRTEENTH Oct-Nov 1984 Apia, Western Samoa K. Eteuati, WS S. Danitofea, SB H.G. Greene, US N. Exon, AU FOURTEENTH Sep 1985 Honiara, SB J. Saliga, SB S. Kingan, CK H.G. Greene, US D. Mallick, UK FIFTEENTH Sep 1986 Rarotonga, CK S. Kingan, CK G. Anderson, PN J.V. Eade, NZ D. Mallick, UK SIXTEENTH Oct 1987 Lae, Papua New Guinea W. Searson, PN S. Sopoanga, TU D.J. Mallick, UK J. Eade, TS; M. Fisk, UN SEVENTEENTH Oct 1988 Suva, FJ S. Sopoanga, TU R. Rutland, AU C. Helsley, US J. Eade, TS EIGHTEENTH Oct 1989