26 Jul 2017

SPC to set up Pacific Oceans

7:54 pm on 26 July 2017

The Pacific Community (SPC) is planning to set up an ocean science centre

The hub will bring together more than 5000 people including up to 900 scientists working on land-based and environmental research, as well as academic staff and students.

Photo: AAP / David Crosling

The proposal will be put before ministers from the SPC's twenty-six member countries and territories, who will be in Noumea for the organisation's biennial conference, coinciding with its 70th anniversary celebrations on Friday.

The SPC's director general Colin Tukuitonga said the Pacific Ocean Science centre would be open to scientists from all over the world.

"One aspect of that relates to a repository of genetic material from fish and sea life around the region. Something that hasn't been there before," he said.

"There is a number of these types of partnerships that are being put up for discussion and out of that we hope one or two or three of them would be supported by the members as one of a series of things that we would do looking ahead.

"An example of one of the other partnership areas being proposed is a project that aims to provide a consistent supply of seeds to small farmers and communities," Dr Tukuitonga said.

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