Transcript Slide 1
Workshop Outline – Objectives, Attendance and Feedback
Vira Atalifo
SOPAC Division, SPC
Workshop Participants
Workshop Participants
The following 15 member countries of the Secretariat of the Pacific
Community (SPC) were represented:
Cook Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
France
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Nauru
Niue
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
United States and Vanuatu
The following Governments also sent representatives:
South Korea
Peoples Republic of China and
Timor Leste (a beneficiary of the DSM Project by request of the European
Union)
Workshop Participants
International, Regional and National Agencies represented
were:
Commonwealth Secretariat
Duke University
European Union
IFM-GEOMAR
International Seabed Authority
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (KORDI)
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
Pennsylvania State University
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
UNEP/GRID-Arendal
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
and World Bank
Workshop Participants
The following private sector and civil society entities were
represented:
Anindilyakwa Land Council
BECA International Limited
Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc
Eco-Strategic Consultants
Envi-Green Pacific Consultancy Limited
Fiji Environmental Law Association
GeoPacific Limited
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Kontiki Capital
Minerals Policy Institute
MUSKITS Law
Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI)
Nautilus Minerals Inc and North-South Environmental Law and
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Workshop Objectives
• Captures the significance of deep sea mineral for the region
and the need for in-depth information sharing on this new
industry;
• Experts to talk on a broad range of issues related to deep
sea minerals and mining;
• Stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities,
needs and priorities and agree on a number of broad
outcomes for the way forward.
DSM Project Communication and Visibility
• Press release prepared and issued in February to media outlets
in the region – “Regional Project to Promote Mineral Wealth”
• Pacific Reach Limited contracted in May - Media works (prepare
and disseminate press releases, TV and radio interviews, media
liaison) prior to, during, and soon after the project inception
workshop.
• Two news articles published leading up to the workshop - led to
expression of interest from various stakeholders in attending the
workshop.
DSM Project Communication and Visibility
• All project meetings and important activities will be released
through the media, also highlighting the financial support of the
EU.
Fig 1:Samples of DSM Project
press releases within and
outside the region.
Specific Purposes of Workshop
• Present the SPC-EU Deep Sea Minerals (DSM) Project
together with the current status of marine minerals exploration
and mining in the region;
• Provide representatives of participating countries with
relevant information on various aspects of deep sea minerals;
• Highlight deep sea minerals potential in the region and
promote information sharing;
Specific Purposes of Workshop
• Encourage countries and stakeholders to share their
experiences and concerns as well as their expectation of the
Project;
• Stimulate discussions among stakeholders, and experts are
expected to provide appropriate advice and guidance during the
discussions;
• Disseminate DSM Project Information Brochures and other
relevant information to stakeholders;
Specific Purposes of Workshop
• Discuss collaborative opportunities with potential partners;
• Identify challenges / needs / priorities with recommended
approaches / strategies.
• Consider feedbacks from stakeholders to improve task
implementation and stakeholder participation;
• Collective agreement on some broad outcomes for the way
forward in the next four years
DSM Project Steering Committee Meeting
• Held on Wednesday evening 8th June 2011 at Tanoa
• Oversee and validate the overall direction and policy of the
project and keep track of the implementation of project activities
• Representatives of participating countries, the DSM Team, a
representative from the EU Delegation and the Secretary
General of the PIFS as the Regional Authorising Officer
• Next meeting October 2011, back to back with STAR/Heads of
Geoscience Meeting
DSM Project Steering Committee Meeting
Outcomes
• Translating Project information brochures to local languages in
the region
• Country-specific information brochures should be handed to the
country of origin for information and distribution
• DSM Project needs to target priority areas in each country and
avoid having to spread its resources too thinly
DSM Project Steering Committee Meeting
Outcomes
• PICs participating in the DSM Project could make a request for
technical assistance at any time
• Possible inclusion of Pacific Overseas Countries and Territories
(OCTs) in the DSM Project
• Australia and New Zealand’s interest to engage with the DSM
Project should be explored
Workshop Feedback:1.12 Overall rating of the workshop
1 - poor
2 - fair
3 - good
4 - very good
5 - excellent
0% 0%
5%
44%
51%
Suggestions for Improvement Include:• Provide time for PIC’s reps to meet and jointly develop
their talks based on pressing issues in their respective
countries
• Sessions to be organized so that presentations on similar
topics are to be discussed jointly
• As a single workshop, it was excellent but need to maintain
momentum by following-up with smaller groups or countries
• Capture what has been gained from this workshop and
shape the next one to the most identified important areas
Suggestions for Improvement Include:• Provide more information on the science and biology of DSM
• Timely disseminate reports and new R & D information to
stakeholders at all levels
• Include community participation at separate meetings or
sessions with the inclusion of FFA &/or fisheries officials,
similar for tourism and other marine use sectors.
Ko Rabwa and Vinaka