The publication is an outcome of a PECC international project that was conducted in a series of three seminars during 2011-2012. These seminars highlighted the challenges and threats from climate change, importance of regional cooperation in marine surveillance and environmental regulations, as well as potential economic benefits that could be attained from better management of the oceans in the fields of food, security, medicine, and energy production. New Caledonia constituency of FPTPEC hosted the first seminar, followed by second hosted in Hawaii by the East West Center and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA); the concluding seminar took place in Auckland, organized by NZPECC and the University of Auckland.

Front Cover and Table of Contents (436KB)

Foreword (79KB)

Executive Summaries (686KB)

Reports from Seminar 1 (7.25MB)

Reports from Seminar 2 (5.4MB)

Reports from Seminar 3 (5.94MB)

Contributors' Profile and Back Cover (435KB)

Seminar 1: Oceans at Risk: Protecting the oceans and marine resources, Nouméa, New Caledonia, November 22-24, 2011

Seminar 2: Ocean as a Source of Renewable Energy, Hawaii, USA, May 26-28, 2012

Seminar 3: Management of Deep Sea Marine Resources and Oceans as a Means of Communication, Auckland, New Zealand, December 4-5, 2012


The November 2011 Nouméa seminar focused on the protection of ocean’s resources including fisheries, ocean and coastal protection regulations, and management of challenges associated with global climate change.  The seminar addressed five main issues:
-          Increased vulnerability of the coastline due to climate variability, sea level rise, and increased storm activity;
-          A need for more solidarity among the regional economies in addressing maritime resource protection issues;
-          A need for enhanced knowledge-sharing and technological innovation;
-          A need to develop new, sustainable local economic models of resource use and protection; and
-          A need to reform and enhance effective governance in the management of maritime areas and resources.

The second seminar entitled, “Oceans as a Source of Renewable Energy,” held in March 2012, covered four key areas:
-          Development of new technologies for efficient use of marine-based energy;
-          New energy sources of the sea: ocean thermal energy conversion (mainly in the Pacific), wave energy, tidal energy, the hydraulic energy, etc.;
-          Means to maximize support for marine energy technologies through technical and financial cooperation of the public and private sectors; and
-          Role of marine energy in the future cities and the adaptation of urban infrastructures to reduce energy use.

The final Auckland seminar built on the conclusions from the two previous seminars and added new ones. Four sessions covered the following areas:
-          Marine surveillance and ways to meet the needs for deep-sea exploration while protecting the environment;
-          Protection of waters and exclusive economic zones through a combination of local and international regulations;
-          Maintenance of resource quality; and
-          Sea routes as means of transportation.