15 June 2026, Nadi - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in partnership with the European Union Delegation for the Pacific (EU) have officially launched the second phase of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP II).
The launch event, on Thursday 11 June 2026 in Nadi, marked a significant step forward in regional efforts to advance the environmental, climate-resilient, economic and social development of Pacific communities, while ensuring the sustainability of the marine resources and ecosystems.
The event was held on the margins of the Regional Workshop on CBD Target 3 Implementation.
SPRED Director for Biodiversity Programme and the Fiji Office, Mr. Amena Yauvoli, underscored the critical role of marine resources in sustaining Pacific communities and economies and the importance of partnership and long-term commitment.
“Our marine resources, as we collectively appreciate, are the backbone of our communities, our economies, and our resilience in the face of climate change. The ocean does not recognise boundaries and neither should our commitment,” Mr Yauvoli said.
Together, we will continue to address key threats to marine species in a shared commitment to protecting the Pacific Ocean.
Ms Kim Edou, representing the European Union Delegation, conveyed the Delegation’s delight in joining SPREP and the country representatives in launching the project.
She emphasised that the PEUMP programme is built on partnerships with the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) and designed to be fully complementary with EU Member State initiatives in the region namely the Agence Française de Développement’s (AFD) Ocean Initiative and the ocean programmes of the German Development agency, GIZ.
The PEUMP Phase II SPREP project will focus on the three thematic areas: addressing the extinction risk of turtles in the Pacific; mitigating bycatch of key marine species; and support Pacific Parties in their compliance under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
SPREP acknowledges the financial support of the European Union which will enable the delivery of the actions described. I thank the European Union for extending the PEUMP initiative to a second phase, a true testament of the Delegation’s commitment to our shared journey towards a resilient and healthy ocean and environment.