The 5th CTI-CFF Ministerial Meeting (MM5) approved the establishment of a new thematic Technical Working Group (TWG), bringing to five the total number of active TWGs under the CTI-CFF. Each TWG corresponds to one of the five thematic goals of the CTI-CFF Regional Plan of Action (RPOA).

Called the Threatened Species Working Group (TSWG), the new TWG will be primarily responsible for facilitating progress on Goal 5 of the RPOA (improving the status of threatened species). Its specific functions include:

On May 15, the CTI-CFF Ministers agreed to adopt two regional resource management frameworks developed for the Coral Triangle for national policy making.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the new Chair of the CTI-CFF Council of Ministers (CTI COM), and the Philippines is the new Vice Chair. Their term began on May 16, 2014, and will end on May 16, 2016, or “when the next Ministerial Meeting will be held after 16 May 2016.”

The CTI-CFF Council of Ministers (CTI COM), acting on the recommendation of the Committee of Senior Officials, has approved the 2014 Operations Plan and Budget for the soon-to-be established permanent Regional Secretariat of the CTI-CFF.

The CTI-CFF marked its 5th anniversary with a major milestone and received assurances of continued support from its Partners.

The Provincial Government and private sector in Cebu Province, Philippines, will join the CTI-CFF in celebrating Coral Triangle Day on June 9.

Local governments across the province and at least four major hotels in Lapu-Lapu City are organizing activities in line with the celebration.

Mr. Isabelo Montejo, Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7, discussed the activities with Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, who chairs the Provincial Board’s Committee on Environmental Protection.

The first editions of the State of the Coral Triangle Report are now available for free download from here or from the Coral Triangle Knowledge Network website (external link).

Brunei Darussalam, sitting as an Observer State at the 5th CTI-CFF Ministerial Meeting (MM5) in Manado, Indonesia, on May 15, reconfirmed its intent to become a Party to the CTI-CFF.

The sultanate was represented at MM5 by Industry and Primary Resources Minister Pehin Dato Yahya Bakar, who told the body that his government is confident it can fulfill the CTI-CFF’s requirements for membership. “Our area may be small, but due to our stringent conservation policies, our marine environment is well-protected,” he said.

Place: Dili, Timor-Leste

Description: Preliminary announcement -- more details to follow

Contact: Arwandrija Rukma, arukma@cticff.org

WWF announced that it has begun accepting entries for the 2014 Smart Gear International Competition, which seeks and supports innovative solutions to address fisheries bycatch—the unintentional catch of fish and other marine species. The deadline for entry submission is August 31, 2014.