A television public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness about marine resource conservation began airing in the Solomon Islands in August 2012. This PSA is the first of a three-part series to be released throughout the year, highlighting the richness of the Solomon Islands’ marine resources, the threats they face, and the programs being implemented to address these issues through the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI).

Twenty-five representatives from community, government, and non-government organizations in the Solomon Islands took a significant step toward achieving the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Regional and National Plan of Action goals by implementing a new tool adapted to local conditions for the effective management of marine protected areas (MPAs).

A team of six scientists and two videographers conducted the first-ever extensive marine survey along the northern coast of Timor-Leste from August 14–24, 2012, and discovered seven potentially new marine species. The survey also recorded exceptionally high biodiversity, with 734 fish species and 360 coral species identified.

The Australian Government is supporting the Papua New Guinea Centre for Locally Managed Areas, a member-owned organization that aims to build the capacity of its member communities to manage their own marine areas — ranging from seagrass beds, coral reefs, and turtle nesting beaches, to mangroves.

Indonesia CTI NCC Newsletter – September 2012