AGP Executive Report

Climate & Fisheries: A new analysis warns that Super El Niño can sharply disrupt marine ecosystems and fisheries, with warmer seas, weaker upwelling, and lower plankton productivity feeding into fish-stock declines and knock-on impacts for coastal food security and livelihoods. Regional Fisheries Enforcement: Pacific nations wrapped up Operation Tui Moana 2026, a three-week surveillance push led by the FFA with Kiribati among participants, conducting 61 vessel inspections and verifying 200+ detections to deter IUU fishing and other maritime crimes. Ocean Governance: The WTO’s Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is hailed as an environmental win, but the “Fish 2” talks could unravel if India, Indonesia, and the United States stall progress. Kiribati Tourism Data: Kiribati’s 2025 International Visitor Survey report (SPTO/TAK) estimates tourism’s 2025 economic impact at USD 12.8 million and maps visitor spending and satisfaction. Nuclear Justice: Kiribati renewed calls for nuclear justice at the UN, detailing ongoing harms from 1957–1962 tests on Kiritimati and urging accountability. Pacific Security & Infrastructure: The Quad plans port infrastructure in Fiji, raising questions about strategic competition in the Pacific.

Fisheries & Trade: The WTO’s Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is hailed as an environmental breakthrough for Pacific seas, but the next “Fish 2” push could unravel if India, Indonesia and the United States stall talks—raising the risk of continued harmful subsidies that fuel overcapacity and IUU fishing. Regional Enforcement: Pacific nations just wrapped Operation Tui Moana 2026, a three-week joint surveillance effort led by the FFA with Kiribati among participants, targeting illegal fishing and other maritime crimes across EEZs and adjacent high seas. Climate Accountability: A UN General Assembly resolution backs a 2025 ICJ advisory opinion, strengthening the legal case that states must act urgently on climate change and may face liability for harm—an important win for Vanuatu and Pacific islands on the front lines. Nuclear Justice: Kiribati and the Marshall Islands renewed calls at the UN for nuclear justice, citing the deadly legacy of testing in the Pacific and urging accountability. Tourism & Data: Kiribati’s International Visitor Survey 2025 report (via SPTO and TAK) shares spending and satisfaction snapshots to guide more evidence-based tourism planning. Energy Resilience (Region): Samoa’s 2026-27 budget sets aside major funding for fuel and energy resilience, including new solar farms and support for power and water utilities.

Pacific Fisheries Security: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of coordinated surveillance across the Western and Central Pacific, with Kiribati among participating countries; authorities carried out 61 vessel inspections and verified 200+ vessel detections to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other maritime crimes. Nuclear Justice for Kiribati: Kiribati and the Marshall Islands renewed calls at the UN for nuclear justice, detailing the human cost of decades of testing in the Pacific, including illness and deaths linked to inadequate protection and warnings. Climate Accountability Win: A UN General Assembly resolution backed the International Court of Justice advisory opinion, strengthening the legal case that states must act urgently on climate change and can face liability for harm—an outcome supported by 141 countries including New Zealand. Kiribati–Fiji Ocean Livelihoods: Fiji and Kiribati signed an MoU to cooperate on sandfish (sea cucumber) aquaculture, aiming to grow livelihoods while protecting marine biodiversity and supporting a sustainable “blue economy.” Tourism Data for Planning: The Pacific Tourism Organisation and Kiribati’s tourism authority released the 2025 International Visitor Survey report, estimating tourism’s economic impact at USD 12.8 million and outlining visitor spending and satisfaction. Regional Policy Pressure: New Zealand’s Pacific visa fee cuts and longer default visas could reduce revenue by about $1–2 million a year, shifting funding pressure onto immigration systems. Climate-Linked Safety Gaps: Reporting highlights how back-to-back cyclones strain emergency shelters and leave women facing violence with fewer safe options when roads, clinics and phone networks fail.

Pacific Fisheries Security: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of coordinated surveillance across the Western and Central Pacific, with Kiribati among participating countries; authorities carried out 61 vessel inspections and flagged more than 200 detections to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Climate Accountability (ICJ): The UN General Assembly backed the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate duties, with 141 votes in favour, strengthening the push for emissions cuts and climate-related human rights protections—an issue Vanuatu and Pacific islands have driven hard. Nuclear Justice: Kiribati and the Marshall Islands renewed calls at the UN for nuclear justice, citing the ongoing harms of decades-old testing and urging accountability for affected communities. Sustainable Ocean Food: Fiji and Kiribati signed an MOU to expand sandfish (sea cucumber) aquaculture, aiming to grow livelihoods while protecting marine biodiversity and supporting the Pacific Blue Economy. Tourism Data for Kiribati: The SPTO and Kiribati’s Tourism Authority released the 2025 International Visitor Survey report, detailing visitor spending and perceptions to guide greener, evidence-based tourism planning. Regional Mobility Costs: Kiribati-relevant Pacific visa fee cuts and longer default visas are expected to reduce revenue for governments, raising questions about funding for immigration systems. Geopolitics & Security Tech: A report from the Solomon Islands highlights backlash after Chinese police introduced fingerprinting and palm-print collection via a surveillance system—raising concerns about privacy and data rights.

Nature for Security: Europe is exploring “rewilding” and restoring wetlands and forests to make border terrain harder to cross, citing how soft ground and altered landscapes could slow mechanised advances. Nuclear Justice Push: Kiribati (with the Marshall Islands) renewed calls at the UN over the human cost of nuclear testing, saying Kiritimati residents faced “little protection” and ongoing health impacts. NPT Deadlock: The 2026 NPT Review Conference ended without consensus again, extending the next five-year cycle amid deep disarmament divisions. Fisheries Enforcement: Pacific nations completed Operation Tui Moana 2026, with Kiribati among participants, using patrols and surveillance to deter IUU fishing across EEZs and adjacent high seas. Climate Accountability at the UN: A UN General Assembly resolution backed the ICJ climate ruling, strengthening the legal case for urgent emissions cuts and climate-related human rights. Tourism Data: Kiribati’s 2025 International Visitor Survey report (with SPTO) estimates tourism’s economic impact at USD 12.8m and details visitor spending and satisfaction. Pacific Sandfish Aquaculture: Fiji and Kiribati signed an MOU to boost sandfish farming with environmental safeguards. Visa Fee Shock: New Zealand’s reduced Pacific visa fees and longer default visas could cut revenue by $1–2m a year, shifting funding pressure.

Tourism Data Drop: SPTO and Kiribati’s Tourism Authority released the Kiribati International Visitor Survey (IVS) 2025 Annual Report, with 333 valid responses covering about 10% of 2025 arrivals, estimating tourism’s economic impact at USD 12.8m and offering fresh detail on visitor spending and satisfaction. Visa Shock: Kiribati’s wider Pacific travel picture is getting squeezed as New Zealand cuts Pacific visa fees (from $216 to $161 for 12 months) and extends default multi-entry visas, but officials warn of a $1–2m per year revenue hit and added pressure on immigration funding. Fisheries Security: Regional partners wrapped up Operation Tui Moana 2026, a three-week crackdown on IUU fishing across 10 countries’ EEZs and nearby high seas, including 61 vessel inspections and 200+ detections. Nuclear Justice Push: Kiribati renewed calls for nuclear justice at the UN, citing the ongoing human cost of testing on Kiritimati. Blue Economy: Fiji and Kiribati signed a sandfish aquaculture MOU to grow livelihoods with environmental safeguards.

Tourism Data Drop: SPTO and Kiribati’s Tourism Authority released the Kiribati International Visitor Survey (IVS) 2025 Annual Report, using 333 valid responses (about 10% of 2025 arrivals) to map visitor spending, satisfaction, and behaviour—aimed at sharper marketing and tourism planning. Visa Shock for Pacific Travel: New Zealand’s Pacific visa fee cuts and longer default multi-entry visas could cost about $1–2 million a year in revenue, with officials saying the system will be managed via budget transfers. Fisheries Enforcement: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of regional surveillance against IUU fishing, with Kiribati among participating states and dozens of vessel inspections and detections. Nuclear Justice Push: Kiribati renewed calls at the UN over the human cost of nuclear testing, while the wider NPT review conference again failed to agree on disarmament language. Climate Accountability in Court: The UN backed a landmark ICJ climate ruling with 141 votes in favour, strengthening the legal case for urgent action and potential reparations. Blue Economy Move: Fiji and Kiribati signed an MoU to boost sandfish aquaculture, linking livelihoods with environmental stewardship.

Nuclear Justice Push: Kiribati and the Marshall Islands renewed calls at the UN for nuclear justice, spotlighting the human cost of decades of testing—especially on Kiritimati, where residents faced “little protection and inadequate warning” and continue to live with cancer and severe birth defects. NPT Deadlock: A fresh UN report says the 2026 NPT Review Conference failed again to agree on nuclear disarmament language—“the bomb, once again, had won.” Pacific Travel Shock: New Zealand is cutting Pacific visa fees and extending default multi-entry visas, but officials warn the government could lose $1–2 million a year as immigration funding strains. Fisheries Crackdown: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of joint surveillance, with Kiribati among participating states and dozens of vessel inspections aimed at stopping IUU fishing. Climate Accountability: The UN backed a landmark ICJ climate ruling with 141 votes in favour, strengthening the legal case for urgent emissions cuts and possible liability for climate harm. Blue Economy: Fiji and Kiribati signed a sandfish aquaculture deal to grow livelihoods while protecting marine ecosystems.

Visa Shock to Revenue: Kiribati’s government is set to cut Pacific visa fees from $216 to $161 next week and extend default multi-entry visas to two years, with officials warning the move could cost about $1–2 million a year as immigration costs get spread across fewer fee payers. Regional Fisheries Push: Pacific nations just wrapped Operation Tui Moana 2026, a three-week joint surveillance effort led by the FFA with Kiribati among participants, targeting illegal fishing and other maritime crimes across multiple EEZs and nearby high seas. Nuclear Justice at the UN: Kiribati renewed calls for nuclear justice, detailing the human toll of 1957–1962 testing on Kiritimati, including illnesses and deaths. Blue Economy Deal: Fiji and Kiribati signed an MoU to boost sandfish aquaculture, aiming for livelihoods alongside environmental safeguards. IMF Watch: The IMF says Kiribati’s growth and poverty reduction are strong, but warns fuel-price shocks and climate risks could still derail progress.

Pacific climate accountability: The UN General Assembly backed a landmark International Court of Justice climate ruling, with 141 countries voting in favour—cementing that governments have legal duties to cut emissions and address climate harm, a major win for Vanuatu and Pacific states. Fisheries security: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of regional surveillance, with Kiribati among participants, delivering dozens of vessel inspections and hundreds of detections to deter IUU fishing. Kiribati blue economy: Fiji and Kiribati signed a deal to boost sandfish (dairo) aquaculture, aiming to grow livelihoods while protecting marine ecosystems. Fuel shock pressure: A Pacific-wide fuel crisis tied to the Middle East conflict is already hitting costs and supply, with Kiribati’s outlook flagged by the IMF as vulnerable to external shocks and climate risks. Women and disasters: Cyclones hitting the region at the same time have exposed how evacuation centres can become dangerous for women facing violence when phones, clinics, and police access fail.

Fisheries Enforcement Boost: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of coordinated patrols across 10 Pacific countries’ waters, with 61 vessel inspections and more than 200 detections checked to deter IUU fishing and other maritime crimes. Climate Accountability: A UN vote backed the ICJ’s landmark climate ruling, with 141 countries supporting—pushing climate action further into legal obligations and opening the door to claims for harm. Kiribati Focus: Fiji and Kiribati signed a sandfish aquaculture deal to grow livelihoods while protecting marine biodiversity, and the IMF says Kiribati’s growth is strong but still exposed to fuel shocks and climate risk. Digital Resilience: NEC completed the East Micronesia Cable System, a 2,250 km link improving connectivity for Kiribati, Nauru and Kosrae—at a time when island nations remain vulnerable to undersea cable failures. Human Impacts: Pacific women’s groups warn that cyclones and damaged services can trap survivors of violence when police, clinics and phone networks go offline.

Fisheries enforcement gets a regional boost: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of coordinated patrols across the Western and Central Pacific, with Kiribati among the participating countries. What it means on the water: crews carried out 61 vessel inspections and logged 200+ vessel detections, aiming to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other maritime crimes. Climate accountability moves from politics to law: the UN backed a landmark International Court of Justice climate ruling, with 141 countries voting to endorse states’ duties to act urgently and equitably—an important win for Pacific frontline nations. Kiribati’s near-term reality: the IMF says Kiribati’s growth and poverty reduction have been strong, but warns fuel shocks and climate risks still threaten the outlook. Digital resilience, but with a warning: a new submarine cable project is improving connectivity, while broader reporting highlights how island internet can hinge on a small number of vulnerable undersea links.

Fisheries Enforcement: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of coordinated patrols across the Western and Central Pacific, with Kiribati among the participating states—61 vessel inspections and 200+ detections helped target IUU fishing and other maritime crimes. Climate Accountability: A UN vote backed the ICJ’s landmark climate ruling, with 141 countries supporting the idea that states have legal duties to act urgently and equitably, and that harm can trigger liability—Vanuatu and Pacific partners keep pushing the case. Kiribati Watch: The IMF says Kiribati’s growth and poverty reduction are strong, but warns fuel shocks and climate risks still threaten the outlook. Digital Resilience: NEC completed the East Micronesia Cable System, bringing faster, more reliable connectivity for Kiribati, Nauru, and FSM—while a separate report flags how island nations remain exposed to undersea cable failures. Human Security: Pacific women’s safety is worsening during disasters, as damaged roads, closed clinics, and downed phones can leave violence survivors trapped in evacuation centres.

Climate justice push: The UN General Assembly backed the ICJ’s landmark climate ruling, with 141 countries voting in favour—cementing that states have legal duties to cut emissions and may face liability for climate harm, a win led by Pacific countries including Vanuatu and supported by New Zealand and Fiji. Fisheries enforcement: Operation Tui Moana 2026 wrapped up after three weeks of coordinated surveillance across the Western and Central Pacific, with 61 vessel inspections and 200+ detections to deter IUU fishing and other maritime crimes—Kiribati included. Blue economy: Fiji and Kiribati signed a new sandfish (dairo) aquaculture deal, aiming to boost livelihoods while protecting marine biodiversity. Women and disasters: New reporting highlights how back-to-back cyclones can trap women in evacuation centres where privacy, clinics, phones, and police access break down—turning climate shocks into a violence risk. Kiribati outlook: The IMF says Kiribati’s growth and poverty reduction are strong, but warns rising fuel costs and climate vulnerabilities still threaten the path ahead.

Fisheries Enforcement: Pacific nations just wrapped Operation Tui Moana 2026, a three-week regional sweep to crack down on illegal fishing and other maritime crimes, with 61 vessel inspections and 200+ detections across the Western and Central Pacific, led by the FFA and backed by partners including Australia, New Zealand, France, and the US. Climate Accountability: In a rare show of global unity, UN members backed a landmark ICJ climate ruling, with 141 countries voting to endorse the court’s view that states have legal duties to act urgently and equitably—and that harmed countries may seek reparations. Kiribati Blue Economy: Fiji and Kiribati signed a new agreement to boost sandfish aquaculture, aiming to grow livelihoods while protecting marine ecosystems. Digital Resilience: NEC says it has completed the East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS), a 2,250 km subsea link bringing faster, more reliable connectivity to Kiribati, Nauru, and FSM. Health & Risk: A new study highlights the long-term COPD burden tied to smoking, while Kiribati’s IMF update flags fuel shocks and climate vulnerabilities despite strong growth.

UN Climate Legal Win: A UN General Assembly resolution backed by 141 countries, including New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu, locks in states’ legal duties to act urgently on climate change, endorsing an ICJ advisory opinion and urging “deep, rapid, sustained” emissions cuts plus stronger climate human-rights protections. Fiji–Kiribati Blue Economy: Fiji and Kiribati signed a landmark deal to boost sandfish (dairo) aquaculture, aiming to grow livelihoods while tightening environmental safeguards. Kiribati Fuel Shock: A regional oil-price squeeze tied to the Middle East conflict is hitting Pacific households and businesses fast, with Kiribati’s IMF outlook warning that higher fuel costs and climate risks can quickly erode gains. Violence After Storms: Pacific women’s groups highlight how cyclones strain evacuation centres and services, leaving survivors of intimate partner violence with fewer safe options. Digital Backbone Upgrade: NEC says the 2,250 km East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS) is complete, bringing faster, more reliable connectivity to Kiribati, Nauru and parts of FSM. Fiji Elections Delayed: Fiji’s PM says local government elections are being postponed until national polls, adding uncertainty to near-term local planning.