(Updated March 5, 2014)

The search is underway for the first Executive Director of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat.

The Executive Director will serve as the chief administrative officer of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, responsible for carrying out all functions and responsibilities of the Secretariat in accordance with the directives of the Senior Officials Meeting and the Ministerial Meeting. The role also involves providing strategic leadership and management of the Secretariat.

Two universities in eastern Indonesia—the University of Haluoleo (UHO) in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, and the University of Pattimura (UNPATI) in Ambon, Maluku—have endorsed the Coral Governance book and adopted it as part of their undergraduate and post-graduate curricula.

The endorsement followed two Training of Trainers sessions held at the universities in January 2014. The trainings were organized by the Indonesia CTI-CFF National Coordinating Committee (NCC) to introduce and socialize the book to universities across the country.

Fishing communities and vendors in the Solomon Islands are using mobile phone technology to develop a real-time database to manage their fish stocks. The project was recently named one of the Grand Prize winners in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Science and Technology Pioneers Prize contest.

The Pioneers Prize recognizes USAID projects that successfully apply science and technology to solving development challenges.

Beginning January 2014, the WWF Coral Triangle Program has a new leader. Jackie Thomas has taken the helm from Dr. Lida Pet-Soede, who has moved to a global role within the WWF network, focusing on ocean and coastal management to enhance food security and livelihoods, particularly in regions where it is most needed.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is implementing a project to support the sustainable management of Indonesia’s marine resources in key coastal areas.

ADB’s Project 46421-001: Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program-Coral Triangle Initiative (COREMAP-CTI) aims to empower coastal communities and the institutions that support them to manage coral reef resources, associated ecosystems, and biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

COREMAP-CTI focuses on establishing and effectively managing marine protected areas (MPAs) as part of a national plan.