The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) organized regional government stakeholders from across the Pacific Island Countries in Nadi, Fiji, from the 28th to 31st October 2025.
Mr. Marah Tairi from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Ms. Roselyn Strickland from the National Environment Service (NES) from the Cook Islands, were amongst participants from Fiji, Niue, Nauru, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Organized by IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) and supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the workshop and meetings were ran in two meeting segments. First, the Regional Workshop going through the Ballast Water and Sediments Conventions and its Regulations; and followed by the Expert Meeting to discuss, the draft Harmonized Procedures for the Uniform Implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention in the Pacific.
The primary objectives of the workshop was to enhance and support the region on the awareness of the BWM Convention and its accompanying Guidelines. The preceding expert meeting, following the workshop, was to consult with the region on establishing a regional framework with an aim towards a harmonized approach for the Pacific to manage ship’s ballast water, in alignment with the requirements of the BWM Convention.
Most of the delegates, including the Cook Islands proposed for more future domestic consultation and collective country discussions is required for more awareness will be necessary organized to see the outcome of the regional draft Procedure going forward.
