82-601: The Nauru Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Management of Fisheries of Common Interest , or The Nauru Agreement is an Oceania subregional agreement between the Federated States of Micronesia , Kiribati , the Marshall Islands , Nauru , Palau , Papua New Guinea , Solomon Islands and Tuvalu . The eight signatories collectively control 25–30% of the world's tuna supply and approximately 60% of
164-594: A Compact of Free Association with the United States, which entered into force on November 3, 1986, marking Micronesia's emergence from trusteeship to independence. Independence was formally concluded under international law in 1990, when the United Nations officially ended the Trusteeship status pursuant to Security Council Resolution 683 . The Compact was renewed in 2004. In February 2021, due to
246-472: A sustainable economy . Andrew Balmford 's book Wild Hope devotes a chapter to the MSC as a successful strategy for achieving conservation goals through a collaborative, market-based solution. Critics claim that the MSC has certified fisheries that are harming the environment and those with a high level of bycatch, the killing of non-target species such as dolphins and turtles. These concerns are furthered by
328-770: A Resolution on Marine Animals. gave their commitment to implement even stronger management measures in their joint EEZs order to maintain sustainable tuna fisheries and minimise impact on bycatch species The new commitments include: At the May 2012 meeting in Alotau, Papua New Guinea , the Fisheries Ministers also approved a PNA Office Business Plan, and welcomed Tokelau as a party to the Palau Arrangement Purse-Seine Vessel Days Management Scheme. In June 2015
410-666: A bitter leadership dispute, the Federated States of Micronesia announced it would quit the Pacific Islands Forum in its formal process of withdrawal. However, in June 2022, the Suva Agreement was reached and the Federated States of Micronesia agreed to remain in the forum. The Federated States of Micronesia is governed by the 1979 constitution , which guarantees fundamental human rights and establishes
492-407: A financial incentive in recommending fisheries and getting more work and profits from the resulting annual audits. However, the practice of companies paying external auditors for assessments to independent standards (such as accounting or quality standards) is widespread throughout all business and non-profit sectors. Third party assessment by accredited certifiers, independent of the standard setter,
574-489: A judicial enquiry. The 2010 run was 30 M and the 2011 run is estimated to be greater than 4 M. The Fraser Sockeye 2010 think tank at Simon Fraser University stated that the large 2010 run was due mainly to the cyclical peak of fish from the Adams River and that returns were high only for a subset of tributaries . However, it stated that "the large unresolved uncertainties […] highlight our collective uncertainty about
656-423: A market-based program, of its various income streams. In 2009 Greenpeace published a comprehensive assessment of the MSC. Overall the report states several positive effects, but also many aspects that make the MSC a weak certification. Jared Diamond 's 2005 book Collapse discussed MSC and the similar Forest Stewardship Council as good examples of collaboration among environmentalists and businesses for
738-702: A network of canals, is often called the Venice of the Pacific. It is located on the eastern periphery of the island of Pohnpei and used to be the ceremonial and political seat of the Saudeleur dynasty that united Pohnpei's estimated 25,000 people from about AD 500 until 1500 when the centralized system collapsed. European explorers—first the Portuguese in search of the Spice Islands ( Indonesia ) and then
820-600: A requirement for retention of all catch of tuna on board (no discards). The full range of fishery management instruments implemented by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement includes: These PNA-specific measures are also supplemented by the Harmonized Minimum Terms and Conditions for Access to FFA member EEZs by Foreign Fishing Vessels , agreed by all FFA member countries including the Parties to
902-409: A separation of governmental powers. This constitution constructs the national government to be similar to – but not exactly alike – that of the United States. The unicameral Congress has fourteen members elected by popular vote. Four senators—one from each state—serve four-year terms; the remaining ten senators represent single-member districts based on population and serve two-year terms. Congress elects
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#1732765511351984-625: A white star on the national flag. The capital is Palikir , on Pohnpei. Two terrestrial ecoregions lie within the country's borders: Carolines tropical moist forests and Yap tropical dry forests . It had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 7.55/10, ranking it 37th globally out of 172 countries. The major coastal communities are mangrove forests, seagrass beds, lagoons and coral reefs, biologically and physically linked. About 300 species of coral, 1000 species of fish and 1200 species of mollusks are recognized in Micronesia. In
1066-405: A wide range of stakeholders with different views so that decisions reflect many sectors and interests. It is an example of a product-oriented multistakeholder governance group . The MSC manages a second standard called Chain of Custody for traceability . If seafood is to be sold with the MSC ecolabel, every business in the supply chain must be assessed and certified by an independent body against
1148-574: Is a conflict of interest and it has relaxed its sustainability requirements, enabling more products to carry its label, thereby increasing its own income. In 2018 Open Seas and the National Trust for Scotland formally objected to MSC certified scallop dredging practices. The 2021 documentary Seaspiracy was critical of the Marine Stewardship Council, arguing it offers a false sense of assurance to consumers about
1230-496: Is a non-profit organisation which aims to set standards for sustainable fishing . Fisheries that wish to demonstrate they are well-managed and sustainable compared to the MSC's standards are assessed by a team of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs). The mission of the MSC is to use its ecolabel , for which the MSC receives royalties for licensing it to products, and fishery certification program to recognise and reward sustainable fishing practices. The MSC has faced criticism in
1312-534: Is a result of intermarriages between Japanese settlers and Micronesians during the Japanese colonial period. There is also a growing expatriate population of Americans, Australians, Europeans, and residents from China and the Philippines since the 1990s. English has become the common language of the government, and for secondary and tertiary education. Outside of the main capital towns of the four FSM states,
1394-464: Is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the United States of America , which is wholly responsible for its defense. The FSM National Police operates a Maritime Wing Unit. The Compact of Free Association allows FSM citizens to join the U.S. military without having to obtain U.S. permanent residency or citizenship, allows for immigration and employment for Micronesians in
1476-419: Is a well-defined type of enhancement to which the MSC standard for sustainability can be applied: To ensure a robust assessment and to ensure that the independent team of experts has all the available information on the fishery, the assessment process is open to a range of stakeholders to participate – this could be other fisheries, NGOs, governments, or other bodies. Stakeholders are invited to participate in
1558-479: Is also a key feature of the United Nations FAO guidelines on ecolabelling fisheries and fish products, and one of the criteria that the global community of MSC stakeholders value in the MSC program. In December 2016 Private Eye reported that a leaked internal WWF document concluded that because the MSC receives royalties from licensing its ecolabel (providing 75% of the organisation's revenue) there
1640-474: Is among the highest in the world, absorbing about 2500 grams of carbon per square meter per year, against 2200 grams in the tropical forest and 125 grams in the open sea. Inland, from the tidal zone to the top of the mountains there is a varied range of vegetation , cloud forest, upland, palm, plantation, areas dominated by climbers of the genus Merremia, savannas, native secondary forest, fragments of introduced trees, cultivated areas, freshwater swamps, swamps of
1722-534: Is an island country in Micronesia , a subregion of Oceania . The federation consists of four states —from west to east: Yap , Chuuk , Pohnpei , and Kosrae —that span across the western Pacific just north of the equator , for a longitudinal distance of almost 2,700 km (1,700 mi). Together, the states comprise around 607 islands and a combined land area of approximately 702 km or 271 sq mi. The entire island nation lies across
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#17327655113511804-603: Is one of the largest fisheries certified by the MSC. Like all such certificates, this approval is issued according to the fulfilment of certain conditions and requirements over the course of its duration. Because the PNA is a member-driven institution, the PNA Chair plays a fundamental role, both as spokesperson and as arbiter of consensus within the group. Unlike some other regional organisations, where Chairs are actively occupied only during annual governing council meetings, chairing
1886-651: Is relatively small; but FSM's waters occupy nearly 3 million km (1.2 million sq mi) of the Pacific Ocean , giving the country the 14th-largest exclusive economic zone in the world. The island nation's capital is Palikir , located on Pohnpei Island ; the largest city is Weno , an island municipality located in the Chuuk Lagoon . Each of its four states is centered on one or more main volcanic islands , and all but Kosrae include numerous outlying atolls . The FSM spreads across part of
1968-407: Is served by four international airports. Economic activity in the Federated States of Micronesia consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing . The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate . Long line fishing of tuna is also viable with foreign vessels from China that operated in the 1990s. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but
2050-465: Is warm, humid and rainy all year round. The islands are located north of the equator and are affected by constant trade winds, which temper the climate. Minimum temperatures range all year round between 22 and 25 °C, and maximum temperatures between 30 and 32 °C. The abundant precipitations oscillate between 2500 and 5000 mm per year, although in the faces oriented to the wind they can surpass 6000 mm. Mount Nahnalaud, only 750 m high, on
2132-545: The Baháʼí Faith . There is a small group of Buddhists on Pohnpei, and a small group of Ahmadiyya Muslims in both Pohnpei and Kosrae. Attendance at religious services is generally high; churches are well supported by their congregations and play a significant role in civil society. In the 1890s, on the island of Pohnpei, intermissionary conflicts and the conversion of clan leaders resulted in religious divisions along clan lines which persist today. More Protestants live on
2214-564: The Caroline Islands in the wider region of Micronesia , which region consists of thousands of small islands divided among several countries. The term Micronesia may refer to the Federated States of Micronesia or to the region as a whole. The FSM was a part of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), a United Nations Trust Territory administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994. On May 10, 1979
2296-468: The Micronesian Games , the nation's football championship and the Micronesia national football team . The Federated States of Micronesia Athletic Association is the governing body for the country's sports and athletics. Each of the four states has its own culture and traditions, but there are also common cultural and economic bonds that are centuries old. Cultural similarities include
2378-620: The Pacific Islands Forum . However, in February 2021, FSM announced it would be formally withdrawing from the Forum in a joint statement with Marshall Islands , Kiribati , and Nauru after a dispute regarding Henry Puna 's election as the Forum's secretary-general. In February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine , FSM severed its diplomatic relations with Russia and called the invasion "unjustified and brutal". The four states in
2460-547: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). However a separate PNA Office was created in 2010, based in Majuro, Marshall Islands. The current (2021) PNA chief executive officer is Dr.Sangaalofa Clark of Kiribati who succeeded Ludwig Kumoru of Papua New Guinea, who in turn succeeded Dr Transform Aqorau of Solomon Islands in 2016. In October 2010, the eight member states Parties to
2542-492: The Pew Environment Group among others over its certification of Antarctic krill . Although the fishery may have been healthy, critics believed that "scientific data on the fishery’s impact [wa]s lacking, and that the council’s decision [wa]s thus based on guesswork". As a result, Whole Foods Market stated it would stop selling all krill oil supplements even with the ecolabel. As part of the MSC certification
Nauru Agreement - Misplaced Pages Continue
2624-645: The Spanish —reached the Carolines in the sixteenth century. The Treaty of Tordesillas gave these lands to Spain and the Spanish incorporated the archipelago to the Spanish East Indies through the capital, Manila , and in the 19th century established several outposts and missions. In 1887, they founded the town of Santiago de la Ascensión in what today is Kolonia on the island of Pohnpei. In
2706-612: The 1870s, Germany began extending its sphere of influence in the Caroline Islands, leading to the Carolines Question of 1885 in which Pope Leo XIII was asked to determine if Germany or Spain had authority over the islands. The result was a confirmation of Spanish authority over the islands, but Germany would have free access to the islands. Following defeat in the Spanish–American War , the Spanish sold
2788-479: The Baltic region. The MSC program is open to all fisheries regardless of size, scale, location and intensity and runs a Developing World Program to ensure equal access to the program. As of February 2016, there are over 20,000 seafood products available with the MSC ecolabel, sold in around 100 countries around the world. As of May 2016, there are over 280 fisheries that have been independently certified as meeting
2870-593: The Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources since 1982. Scientists had accused the assessor, which recommended the fishery for certification, of ignoring unfavorable data. The independent adjudicator later sent back the recommendation for certification to the assessor for reconsideration. The fishery was certified with adjustments to the scoring on the contested indicators and additional requirements for providing scientific data to aid research on toothfish stocks. The MSC received criticism from Greenpeace and
2952-572: The Denmark North Sea plaice fishery. The concerns raised were taken into account and the fishery concerned implemented a habitat strategy to ensure enhanced protection of vulnerable habitats through measures such as closed areas, gear modifications, technical developments and targeted research. However, in an independent study of seven different seafood ecolabelling and certification programs, commissioned by WWF International and carried out by Accenture Development Partnerships in 2009,
3034-530: The Federated States of Micronesia are 97% Christian . More than half of the population follows the Catholic Church (55%) and about 42% follow various Protestant Christian groups. In general this is due to Spanish and German colonial history. Spanish rule meant that a large part of the population remained Catholic. During the German colonial period, until 1914, Catholic and Protestant missionaries from
3116-1045: The German Empire were deployed. Several Protestant denominations, as well as the Roman Catholic Church , are present in every Micronesian state. Most Protestant groups trace their roots to American Congregationalist missionaries. On the island of Kosrae, the population is approximately 7,800; 95 percent are Protestants. On Pohnpei , the population of 35,000 is evenly divided between Protestants and Catholics. Most immigrants are Filipino Catholics who have joined local Catholic churches, e.g. Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Pohnpei. On Chuuk and Yap, an estimated 60 percent are Catholic and 40 percent are Protestant. Religious groups with small followings include Baptists , Assemblies of God , Salvation Army , Seventh-day Adventists , Jehovah's Witnesses , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and
3198-548: The MSC Chain of Custody standard. This ensures that only seafood from a certified sustainable fishery is sold with the MSC label. As of March 2019 , the use of DNA barcoding by the MSC has reduced species mislabelling (sometimes done fraudulently) to less than 1% among covered products, compared to the sector average of roughly 30%. The MSC is a registered charity and non-profit organisation and depends on various sources of funding. From 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012,
3280-447: The MSC program helps to harness market forces to incentivise positive environmental change. A study commissioned and funded by MSC found that MSC-certified fisheries show improvements that deliver benefits to the marine environment. Benefits included: increased stocks; improved management of stocks; reduced bycatch ; expansion of environmentally protected areas; and increased knowledge about ecosystem impacts amongst fishers. The MSC
3362-428: The MSC ranked highest across all 103 criteria. The study was repeated in 2012 and the MSC again was determined ‘best in class’, scoring twice as highly as the next nearest certification program analysed. Some scientists like Sidney Holt and Daniel Pauly have suggested that a system where assessments are carried out by commercial contractors paid by the fisheries creates a conflict of interest because assessors have
Nauru Agreement - Misplaced Pages Continue
3444-782: The MSC was criticised by environmental groups like the Sierra Club for certifying the British Columbia sockeye salmon fishery when stocks in the Fraser River (a part of the fishery) had been in decline since the early 1990s. The year before, the salmon run of the Fraser River (a part of the fishery) was only 1.4 million (M) of a predicted 11 M salmon and had prompted the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to launch
3526-417: The MSC's environmental standard for sustainable fishing and over 90 are currently undergoing assessment. Around 3,300 companies operating in 34,500 sites have met the MSC Chain of Custody standard for seafood traceability. The MSC works in partnership with a number of organisations, businesses and funders around the world but is fully independent of all. The MSC environmental standard for sustainable fishing
3608-404: The MSC's total income was £15 million. Total expenditure for the same period was £12 million. The MSC Board recognises it as generally good practice to hold reserves as a protection against any financial difficulties in the future. A reserves target of 6 to 9 months’ cover is considered to be necessary, at least as an aspiration, given the MSC's absence of a subscribing membership and uncertainty, as
3690-606: The Nauru Agreement (PNA) extended their prohibition on tuna purse-seine fishing in approximately 4.5 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean high seas by purse-seine vessels licensed to fish in their combined Exclusive Economic Zones . The extension was unveiled at the 6th meeting of the Technical and Compliance Committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Other recent actions by
3772-540: The Nauru Agreement. These terms and conditions apply to all foreign fishing vessels, not just purse-seiners, and include a requirement for an Automatic Location Communicator to be switched on at all times and reporting to the regional Vessel Monitoring System, minimum standards for reporting to national authorities, and a requirement for annual regional vessel registration. In May 2012 the PNA Fisheries Ministers met in Alotau, Papua New Guinea, and through
3854-600: The PNA Fisheries Ministers met in Palikir, Pohnpei , under the chairmanship of Elisala Pita of Tuvalu , which in 2015 has refused to sell fishing days to certain nations and fleets that have blocked Tuvaluan initiatives to develop and sustain their own fishery. Elisala Pita also said that Tuvalu was disappointed with the outcomes of recent meetings of the WCPFC as some fishing nations had tried to avoid their responsibilities and commitment to sustainable fishing. In December 2011,
3936-431: The PNA purse-seine free-school skipjack fishery was certified according to Marine Stewardship Council standards as being sustainable. This means that products made from skipjack tuna caught from free schools (without setting near Fish Aggregation Devices or other floating objects) by PNA-licensed and product-chain-certified purse-seiners will be eligible for the MSC label. The PNA free-school skipjack purse-seine fishery
4018-416: The PNA requires a significant investment of time throughout the year. The catches taken by the fisheries that are controlled by the standards, rules and decisions agreed between the Parties to the Nauru Agreement are worth several billion US dollars per annum, and decisions may need to be made at any time to sustain these fisheries as new challenges arise. The PNA Chair is selected by Parties annually. The PNA
4100-419: The Parties to the Nauru Agreement include a prohibition on setting purse-seine nets around whale sharks, a ban on fishing near fish aggregation devices during the months of July, August and September (with an option to extend this for up to an additional three months if scientific advice suggests that tuna stocks would benefit), a requirement for 100% observer coverage aboard purse-seiners, a minimum mesh-size, and
4182-521: The President and Vice President from among the four state-based senators to serve four-year terms in the executive branch. Their congressional seats are then filled by special elections. An appointed cabinet supports the president and vice president. There are no formal political parties. In international politics, the Federated States of Micronesia has often voted with the United States concerning United Nations General Assembly resolutions. The FSM
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#17327655113514264-806: The U.S., and establishes economic and technical aid programs. FSM has foreign relations with 56 countries, including the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta . FSM was admitted to the United Nations based on the Security Council 's recommendation on August 9, 1991, in Resolution 703 and the General Assembly 's approval on September 17, 1991, in Resolution 46/2. The FSM was an active member of
4346-533: The United Nations and has been a member of the Pacific Community since 1983. The ancestors of the Micronesians settled over four thousand years ago. A decentralized chieftain-based system eventually evolved into a more centralized economic and religious culture centered on Yap Island . Nan Madol , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , consisting of a series of small artificial islands linked by
4428-470: The archipelago to Germany in 1899 under the German–Spanish Treaty of 1899 . Germany incorporated it into German New Guinea . (A few remote islands, notably Kapingamarangi , were not specifically named in the treaty, but this remained unnoticed until the late 1940s and, while acknowledging the historical curiosity in 1949, Spain has made no modern claims to the islands. ) During World War I , it
4510-430: The fact that the industry pays the MSC to be certified, which is presented as a conflict of interest. In addition, there is no guarantee that the seafood is ethical, as animal welfare is not considered and suffocation is still the standard slaughter method for fish, who possess not only the ability to feel pain but emotions and sentience. Since 2009, the MSC has been criticized for certifying fisheries that have, in
4592-639: The federation are, from west to east: These states are further divided into municipalities . The Federated States of Micronesia consists of 607 islands extending 2,900 km (1,802 mi) across the archipelago of the Caroline Islands east of the Philippines . The islands have a combined area of 702 km (271 sq mi). The islands are grouped into four states, which are Yap , Chuuk (called Truk until January 1990), Pohnpei (known as "Ponape" until November 1984), and Kosrae (formerly Kusaie). These four states are each represented by
4674-501: The fishery against the MSC standard and determines whether to recommend certification. The assessors are independently accredited to perform MSC assessments by Accreditation Services International (ASI). After certification, fisheries undergo annual audits costing $ 75,000 per audit and are recertified every five years. The Marine Stewardship Council is a program for wild fisheries and does not include aquaculture production. Some types of ‘enhanced fisheries’ can be certified but there
4756-438: The importance of the traditional extended family and clan systems and are found on all the islands. The island of Yap is notable for its "stone money" ( Rai stones ), large disks usually of calcite, up to 4 meters (13 ft) in diameter, with a hole in the middle. The islanders, aware of the owner of a piece, do not necessarily move them when ownership changes. There are five major types: Mmbul , Gaw , Ray , Yar , and Reng ,
4838-447: The island of Pohnpei, receives an average of 10,160 mm, being one of the rainiest places on earth, with almost always overcast skies. In general, the rains are produced by showers and storms of short duration but very intense. The driest places are the flat atolls, where rainfall can drop below 3000 mm. The driest months are January and February, with no less than 250 mm and 20 days of rain. The Federated States of Micronesia
4920-574: The islands ratified a constitutional government and then became a sovereign state after attaining independence on November 3, 1986—under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Other neighboring island entities (also former members of the TTPI), also formed constitutional governments, becoming the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau . The FSM has a seat in
5002-401: The krill fishery committed to further scientific research and 100% observer coverage, specifically addressing the concerns about risks posed to other species by krill fishing. Fishing pressure on krill is very low – less than 1% of estimated biomass - and the management rules established by CCAMLR ensure fishing activities minimise risks to the krill population or other species. In early 2010,
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#17327655113515084-403: The last being only 30 cm (12 in) in diameter. Their value is based on both size and history, many of them having been brought from other islands, as far as New Guinea , but most coming in ancient times from Palau . Approximately 6,500 of them are scattered around the island. Pohnpei is home to Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , but
5166-516: The local languages are primarily spoken. In the Catholic mission of Pohnpei , among the Mercedarian missionaries, considered an institution in the country, Spanish is also spoken. Growth remains high at more than 3% annually, offset somewhat by net emigration. English is the official and common language. Aside from English, the following Austronesian languages are spoken: The people of
5248-650: The lower castes have some distinct dances, such as a woman's standing dance, but can only dance when authorized by a person of a higher caste. The following papers have been published in the FSM: There have been very few published literary writers from the Federated States of Micronesia. In 2008, Emelihter Kihleng became the first ever Micronesian to publish a collection of poetry in the English language. Government General information Marine Stewardship Council The Marine Stewardship Council ( MSC )
5330-586: The main concerns of the FSM. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth. The indigenous population of the nation, which is predominantly Micronesian , consists of various ethnolinguistic groups. It has a nearly 100% Pacific Islander and Asian population: Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4%. A sizable minority also have some Japanese ancestry , which
5412-434: The mangrove forests there are shrimps, crabs and fish, as well as birds that feed on them. Seagrass meadows appear offshore following the mangroves. The lagoons provide food for the reef inhabitants and contain various kinds of plankton. The biodiversity and complexity of the coral reefs increases markedly from east to west, with 150 species of hard coral at Kosrae, 200 at Pohnpei and 300 at Chuuk. Coral productivity in this area
5494-560: The northern Pacific accordingly: northeast of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea ; south of Guam and the Marianas ; west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands ; east of Palau and the Philippines ; about 2,900 km (1,800 mi) north of eastern Australia , 3,400 km (2,100 mi) southeast of Japan; and some 4,000 km (2,485 mi) southwest of Honolulu of the Hawaiian Islands . The country's total land area
5576-424: The palm Nypa fruticans , atoll forests, forests in rocky areas and beaches. There are about 1230 species of ferns and flowering plants, of which 782 are native, including 145 native fern species. On Pohnpei Island, there are about 750 plant species, of which 110 are endemic. Another 457 species have been introduced. The Federated States of Micronesia has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen : Af ). The weather
5658-540: The past, mainly centering on its close ties to the fishing industry and conflict of interest stemming from royalties received by the industry for its certification label. When buyers choose MSC-certified fish, well-managed fisheries are rewarded for sustainable practices. In turn, the growing market for certified sustainable seafood generates a powerful incentive for other fisheries to demonstrate they are fishing sustainably or to improve their performance so that they too can be eligible for MSC certification. In this way,
5740-466: The process from the outset, and throughout the assessment, stakeholders are given the opportunity to submit information and comment on reports, all of which are made public and available for anyone to see on the MSC website. The MSC is governed by a board of trustees of up to 15 members. In addition a Technical Advisory Board and a Stakeholder Council advise the Board. The structure of these bodies involves
5822-504: The relative roles of climate change, aquaculture, and fisheries management in determining salmon returns". A management response to the decreased stocks was taken and the fishery was closed to allow the stocks to recover. The fishery is now operating successfully and has an ongoing commitment to protecting weak populations and decreasing bycatch. Catch level is set in-season in accordance with each year's run size. In February 2011, several European WWF chapters objected to certification of
5904-478: The remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the U.S. is the primary source of revenue, with the U.S. pledged to spend $ 1.3 billion in the islands in 1986–2001; when the Compact was amended in 2004, the United States committed to providing $ 110 million in development aid through 2023. The CIA World Factbook lists high dependence on U.S. aid as one of
5986-608: The site is currently listed as In Danger due to natural causes. The government is working on the conservation of the site. Traditional dances on the main islands includes "stick dancing" on Pohnpei , Chuuk and Yap , standing dances on Chuuk and sitting dances on Yap and Chuuk . The Yapese are particularly known for their skills in dancing. The Yapese stick dance is performed by men, women and children together, while standing dances are performed either by women or men and boys, but never both together. The men participate in various dancing competitions, which are segregated by caste ;
6068-470: The view of some, questionable sustainability. The most controversial certification has been that of the Ross Sea Antarctic toothfish fishery. Some scientists and stakeholders in the seafood industry consider the fishery "exploratory", since so little is known about it. However toothfish has been fished commercially for over 30 years and the fishery has been closely managed by Convention on
6150-411: The western and central Pacific tuna supply. Historically, the Nauru Agreement and other joint fishery management Arrangements made by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (usually referred to as PNA ) have been concerned mainly with the management of tuna purse-seine fishing in the tropical western Pacific. From its initial enactment in 1982, the implementation of the Nauru Agreement was coordinated by
6232-472: The western side of the island, while more Catholics live on the eastern side. Missionaries of many religious traditions are present and operate freely. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion , and the Government generally respects this right in practice. The US government received no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice in 2007. Life expectancy
6314-528: Was 66 for men and 69 for women in 2018. Pingelap in Pohnpei State is notable for the prevalence of an extreme form of color blindness called Achromatopsia , and known locally as maskun . Approximately 5% of the atoll's 3000 inhabitants are afflicted. Baseball is very popular in the FSM. The sport of association football in the Federated States of Micronesia is run by the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association . They control
6396-630: Was administered by the United States under United Nations auspices in 1947 as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands pursuant to Security Council Resolution 21 . On May 10, 1979, four of the Trust Territory districts ratified a new constitution to become the Federated States of Micronesia. Palau , the Marshall Islands , and the Northern Mariana Islands chose not to participate. The FSM signed
6478-646: Was captured by Japan . Following the war, the League of Nations awarded a mandate for Japan to administer the islands as part of the South Seas Mandate . During World War II , a significant portion of the Japanese fleet was based in Truk Lagoon . In February 1944, Operation Hailstone , one of the most important naval battles of the war, took place at Truk, in which many Japanese support vessels and aircraft were destroyed. Following World War II, it
6560-607: Was developed over two years through a consultative process involving more than 300 expert organizations and individuals around the world. It is consistent with the ‘Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Wild Capture Fisheries’ adopted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2005. Fisheries that want certification and to use the ecolabel pay US$ 20,000 to more than $ 100,000 to an independent, for-profit contractor that assesses
6642-641: Was founded in 1996, inspired by the Grand Banks cod fishery collapse . In 1999 it became independent of its founding partners, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Unilever . MSC has a staff of around 140 spread across the headquarters in London, regional offices in London, Seattle, Singapore and Sydney, and local offices in Edinburgh, Berlin, The Hague, Paris, Cape Town, Tokyo, Reykjavik, and
6724-1041: Was named the Organization of the Year for 2010 by the regional news magazine Islands Business . PNA earned the Seafood Champion Award for Vision at the Global Seafood Summit in Malta in 2016. According to the Environmental Justice Foundation , PNA earned the award for "seeing the need to manage the Western and Central Pacific tuna fishery for the long term and quickly taking effective action". Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia ( / ˌ m aɪ k r oʊ ˈ n iː ʒ ə / ; abbreviated FSM ), or simply Micronesia ,
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