WAITT INSTITUTE

Bermuda: the team finalized the blue prosperity plan which was presented to cabinet and publicly released in april. This plan included the final msp and blue economy strategy. Federated states of micronesia: we produced a monitoring, compliance, and surveillance assessment, a sustainable finance assessment, and review of a fisheries impact model with our government partners to inform the offshore msp. We also worked with local partners to implement a pilot program for electronic fisheries monitoring to support coastal fisheries management. We hired a full-time local coordinator and launched a fellowship program to provide small grants to blue entrepreneurs.

Fiji: we hired three new team members in fiji to support the work, conducted a pilot ocean use survey to support msp development, and progressed reports based on the scientific expedition conducted in 2023. We also supported several workshops throughout the year to support blue economy, marine spatial planning, and aquaculture of beche-de-mer. Maldives: we discussed a potential msp implementation fund and mou with the new government, but ultimately were unable to progress work in the maldives and wound down the program. Samoa: we supported the government in submitting their msp and bill to parliament and supported an awareness campaign around ocean stewardship and the importance of conservation. We also completed mpa cost model and discussed an implementation fund with partners.

Tonga: our team worked with the government to develop a new mou which included language around funding support for msp implementation (not yet signed as the government turned over at the end of the year). We supported the special management areas program through local partners, launched a fellowship to support blue entrepreneurs with small grants, and kicked off a compliance and enforcement assessment to support msp implementation planning. Vanuatu: we hired a new country manager based in vanuatu who supported awareness of draft msp and engagement. We progressed the reports based on the scientific expedition conducted in 2023 and supported the launch of the national ocean policy and msp framework.