A newly enhanced ocean portal has been launched at the Pacific Islands Ocean Conference in Honiara, designed specifically to empower island nations and communities by providing accessible and reliable ocean and climate data. This innovative platform, a result of over a decade of feedback from users across the region, consolidates data from both local and international sources, including partnerships with the World Meteorological Organization and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, into a user-friendly format.
Jens Kruger, Deputy Director for the Pacific Community’s Ocean and Maritime Programme, highlighted that the portal embodies the scientific and technical capabilities of Pacific peoples, emphasizing that it is an initiative made for the Pacific and by the Pacific. He noted that this launch challenges long-held assumptions about the region’s technical capacity, underlining that the tool is directly tailored to meet the needs of Pacific decision-makers and practitioners.
Key features of the Pacific Ocean Portal include interactive maps, real-time forecasts, historical datasets, climate projections, and customizable national dashboards which allow governments to manage their data securely and transparently. The portal aims to be “usable, useful, and ultimately used,” representing a significant advancement from previous platforms.
Karl Kuper, Solomon Islands Deputy Secretary Corporate for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, welcomed the initiative as a testament to partnership and positive leadership. He remarked that the portal goes beyond being a simple website; it actively supports crucial areas such as coral reef protection, maritime safety, tourism, fisheries, and disaster preparedness by making complex data actionable and locally relevant.
The portal has already been implemented in 15 Pacific Island countries through extensive training sessions, with plans for expansion to territories like American Samoa. Its diverse user base ranges from local fishermen checking sea conditions to students and researchers utilizing the platform for educational projects. Policymakers are expected to benefit as they increasingly rely on real-time data for informed decision-making.
This collaborative effort was spearheaded by the Pacific Community alongside the Climate and Ocean Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac), with long-term support from Australia and New Zealand. Kuper emphasized that this achievement illustrates the resilience and innovation of the Pacific, aiming to empower communities and bolster collective action against climate challenges.
The official unveiling of the Pacific Ocean Portal concluded with a live demonstration, showcasing its potential for enhancing ocean and climate services across the region. It’s now publicly available at oceanportal.spc.int, free of charge, marking a hopeful development for Pacific nations as they strive to adapt to a changing climate and leverage their unique expertise for sustainable environmental management.