3 June 2011: An awareness-raising training on Ships Ballast Water Management, held in Suva, Fiji, has resulted in recommendations to develop a National Policy for the country, based on existing legislation, as well as to ratify the Ballast Water Management Convention. The training was organized by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) and was the first-ever training on the topic, according to SPREP.

The training, held during the week of 19 May 2011, was attended by government ministries (Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited) and the private sector (Pacific Agency, Williams & Gosling, Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd).

The goal of the training was to highlight the need to develop policies and a legal framework for Port State ballast water management in Fiji, an important port in the Pacific. [SPREP News]