Palau hosts Ocean Science Workshop to strengthen climate and marine services

KOROR, Palau (June 5, 2025) — Government officials, scientists, and community stakeholders gathered Thursday for the start of the Palau Ocean Science to Service Workshop, a two-day regional initiative aimed at bolstering Palau’s capacity to use ocean and climate data to address pressing national challenges.

WSO Director Maria Ngemaes, Australian Ambassador Toby Sharpe and participants
at the Ocean Science Workshop in Palau.

Held at the West Plaza Hotel in Koror and organized under the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac), the workshop brings together experts from the Palau Weather Service Office (WSO), the Pacific Community (SPC), and various local agencies to identify and design strategies that will improve how marine and climate information is used across multiple sectors in Palau.

Since 2012, COSPPac has worked to build the capacity of National Weather Services across the Pacific to better understand and deliver ocean, climate, and sea-level data to inform decision-making. The program is supported by the Australian Government and implemented through a partnership that includes the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, SPC, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).

This week’s workshop marks the latest in a series of national engagements that have been held across the region since 2015, including in countries such as the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and most recently, the Federated States of Micronesia in 2024.

The Palau session specifically aims to improve understanding of ocean stakeholder needs and strengthen the role of Palau’s National Weather Service in providing timely and relevant marine and climate services. Participants include representatives from fisheries, tourism, environment, shipping, and maritime sectors.

“We are creating space for agencies and community partners to come together, identify gaps, and co-design solutions using available ocean and climate data,” said a representative from the SPC during Thursday’s opening remarks.

On Day 1, sessions featured presentations by the Palau Weather Service Office highlighting seasonal ocean and climate forecasting tools, as well as marine weather products tailored to local needs. Breakout groups discussed current data use, information gaps, and how agencies apply ocean information in their daily operations—from managing fishery resources to planning coastal infrastructure and ensuring maritime safety.

“We want to engage the stakeholders, so we can enhance our products to meet their needs,” said Maria Ngemaes, Director of the Palau National Weather Service Office, on her key expectation from the workshop.

Special attention was given to issues of inclusion through a session on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), emphasizing the importance of making climate and ocean services accessible and relevant to all communities.

Day 2 shifted focus toward solution design, with participants divided into sector-based groups to propose initiatives that could be supported by WSO data and expertise. Proposals ranged from developing tailored marine hazard advisories to integrating ocean monitoring tools into school curricula and community outreach.

The workshop will conclude Friday with discussions on regional early warning systems (EWS), highlighting opportunities for Palau to leverage current and upcoming initiatives. These include advancements in sea-level monitoring and integration of ocean data into national disaster preparedness plans.

In the closing session, participants are expected to outline a roadmap for continued collaboration between WSO and ocean stakeholders, ensuring that scientific services directly support sustainable development, community resilience, and environmental stewardship in Palau.

The workshop reflects a broader Pacific-wide push to translate science into services, ensuring that data is not only collected but actively used to protect lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems in one of the world’s most ocean-dependent regions. (By: L.N. Reklai)

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