SPC Geoscience Division

The safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment in the region took a positive step forward recently with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). Hydrography is the study, surveying, and mapping of the oceans, seas and rivers, especially related to navigation and the environment.

IHO is comprised of 80 member governments represented by their respective national hydrographic offices.  Its objectives include the standardization of nautical charts as well as the adoption of reliable and efficient methods to conduct hydrographic surveys.

In mid-April Micronesian countries met for the first time in Majuro, The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), to look at ways to improve water and sanitation throughout the region.

Delegates from Palau, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, and RMI gathered to establish a Micronesian Water Committee, as a permanent working group of the Micronesian Chief Executives Summit’s (MCES).

In opening the meeting, RMI’s Acting President, Mr Ruben R. Zackhras, said that the fast pace of urbanization had led to tremendous pressure on demand for water and sanitation and that in many countries water had to go from being an abundant resource to one of scarcity. He also reminded delegates that globally water resources are in crisis.

12 APRIL 2011 NUKU’ALOFA (GOVERNMENT OF TONGA) - A Korean research vessel will carry out scientific studies on seabed minerals in Tongan waters over the next several months.

The IBRV Araon arrived 9th April with the aim of investigating seabed massive sulphide deposits such as copper, silver and gold in Tonga’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

At a special ceremony to welcome the new ship on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Kuita Vaipulu, in his role as Acting Prime Minister, thanked the Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) for organising the visit.

Pacific Island countries and territories are challenged by the necessity to update their maps to reflect the current day realities. “Countries are utilising several mapping systems, or projections, in parallel,” explained Dr Wolf Forstreuter, SOPAC’s Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist. SOPAC is the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

“For example, road networks river systems, coastlines, contour lines and village locations are available on different maps. Often each has different accuracy and a different projection. They do not overlay or fit one on top of the other,” continued Dr Forstreuter.

Dr Forstreuter said that discrepancies are the result of several factors: the mapping carried out by the first surveyors at the end of the 19th century; tectonic shift, which contributes to islands shifting position; legal challenges associated with using old maps, and the need for Lands Departments to move to the use of remote sensing data and new software.