Marine Protection Push: French Polynesia is expanding no-extraction protections, with fully protected waters now at about 30% of its exclusive economic zone, adding 520,000 sq km and limiting industrial fishing and seabed mining—while keeping artisanal fishing access for local communities. Ocean Funding & Health Links: At the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, 320 commitments worth USD 6.4 billion were announced, including French Polynesia’s plan to strengthen the Tainui Atea Marine Protected Area with 27,000 sq km of new regulated fishing areas and coastal and seamount protections. El Niño Preparedness: SPREP is urging Pacific communities to prepare for El Niño after it was declared underway, stressing early action to reduce risks to families and health. Disaster Response Training: Exercise MARARA 26 in Tahiti highlighted multinational humanitarian and disaster response readiness, including medical capabilities and interoperability among partner forces. Local Safety at Teahupo’o: An American surfer reportedly died after wiping out on Teahupo’o’s reef, suffering severe neck injuries and being transferred from Taravao Hospital to CHPF before passing away. Mosquito Risk Under Climate Change: A Pasteur Institute entomologist in France, with roots in Papeete, warns that tiger mosquitoes are spreading beyond the tropics, raising concerns for diseases like dengue and Zika.