Fisheries Diplomacy: The 25th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting and 7th Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting wrapped up in Wellington on 2 July, with Pacific leaders backing the next chair, New Zealand’s Shane Jones, and adopting a communique on how to manage the Blue Pacific’s fisheries. Deep-Sea Mining Watch: A Vancouver-based deep-sea miner, The Metals Co., is pushing to commercialize ocean-floor extraction as U.S. moves accelerate, while legal analysts warn small Pacific sponsoring states could get stuck between investor claims and ocean-protection duties. Seabed Governance in Court: Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) and Tonga Offshore Mining Ltd. (TOML) filed parallel cases against the International Seabed Authority at ITLOS, challenging due process and transparency in the ISA’s compliance inquiry. Security & Infrastructure: Australia and Vanuatu signed the Nakamal Agreement, shifting from tighter third-party investment controls to consultation-based safeguards tied to keeping infrastructure free from militarization and interference. Pacific Energy Pressure: Coverage of the fuel crisis shows Pacific governments raising diesel price ceilings and turning to renewable energy support as costs and economic activity take a hit. Public Health: A global ranking piece puts Nauru at the top for obesity, highlighting major chronic-disease pressure on small island economies. Water Access Data: A new map shows safely managed drinking water remains out of reach for billions, with stark gaps between wealthy and low-income countries. Regional Operations: NZDF personnel joined a multinational effort in Papua New Guinea to destroy WWII-era explosive remnants, reducing long-running risks to local communities.