Rhonda Robinson
Rhonda Robinson is the Pacific Community's (SPC) Director for the Geoscience, Energy and Maritime Division. She leads one of the organisation's largest Divisions that support Pacific countries and territories with scientific and technical solutions…
Quantifying illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific Islands region – a 2020 update
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a recognised global problem that undermines the integrity of responsible fisheries management arrangements, and results in lost value to coastal states (e.g. FAO 2002; Agnew et al. 2009). The first…
Tuna stomachs: Is the glass half full, or half empty?
For some of us, fishing is a bit like playing bingo: you need to be lucky, but unlike bingo, with experience and scientific knowledge you can increase your chances of winning the fishing competition or putting the catch of the day on the menu. The…
Tuna help to map mercury pollution in the ocean
Whether as sushi, steak or tinned, tuna is one of the world’s most widely eaten saltwater fish, and yet it is known to contain toxic methylmercury, the most toxic form of mercury, which affects the nervous system, with foetuses and young children being…
The Fisher's Tales S2 - A little privacy please
This series aims at disseminating informative and educational toolkits amongst coastal communities from the Pacific region. The videos provide information on the habitat, nutrition and behaviour of key marine species, as well as advice on how to use…
Pacific fisheries leaders emphasise building resilience and strengthening recovery in fisheries
Varied in landmass, ocean space, culture and different levels of economic development, Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are vastly diverse, yet uniquely similar in the challenges they face. The phrase “one size does not fit all” is a…
Ocean Science Fact: Climate change = Ocean change
The dark blue ocean absorbs up to 93% of the excess heat caused by climate change, protecting us from the worst impacts. The ocean regulates the climate and weather, and the Pacific, as the biggest ocean on earth, is a climate engine.
Traditional food production and food sharing practices help rural Pacific Island communities weather COVID-19 impacts, study finds
A newly published, seven-country study found that in rural Pacific Island communities that have maintained traditional practices around food production were better able to weather the initial impacts of COVID-19.
“From sago farming in Papua New Guinea to…
Using COVID-19 travel bans to precipitate a digital transition in coastal fisheries science
Collecting scientifically robust data to understand and sustainably manage coastal fisheries across the Pacific requires sustainable and well-designed scientific monitoring programmes – an outcome that has proven to be a difficult objective, given the…