The first Oceania Seabird Symposium is now underway at the University of Auckland, running from 14 to 17 April 2025. Originally planned for New Caledonia, the venue was changed due to political developments there.
The event, themed Talking, Listening, Hands On, brings together experts, government officials, and Indigenous leaders from across the Pacific to discuss seabird conservation and knowledge sharing.
The opening included cultural welcomes and remarks from Easter Catherine Chu Shing, Deputy Director General of SPREP, and Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau, Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific at the University of Auckland.
Country updates were delivered by representatives from American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and the US Marine National Monuments.
Sessions on day one covered traditional knowledge systems, language and cultural perspectives, and the impacts of coastal degradation on seabird habitats. Speakers included Ramari Oliphant Stewart, Randy Thaman, Elise Huffer, and Ioane Etuale.
A panel discussion and further technical presentations followed, covering causes of seabird mortality, including human infrastructure, rescue centre data, and seabird behaviour around fishing vessels.
Seabirds such as albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, terns, and boobies are central to the discussions. These species are critical indicators of ocean health, often travelling thousands of kilometres and connecting ecosystems across national borders. Their decline signals wider threats to marine life and food security for Pacific communities.
Workshops, poster presentations, and field visits are scheduled over the next three days.
The University of Auckland sent out a notice confirming the change in venue.
A full programme is available on the official website: oceaniaseabirds2025.com.
