South Pacific Symposium on Marine Pollution Emergency Response

The IOPC Funds participated in a regional symposium on marine pollution emergency response, organised by the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The symposium, which was hosted by the Government of Fiji, took place in Suva from 15 to 19 September 2025.

IOPC Funds’ Claims Manager, Matthew de Plater, provided an overview of the role and structure of the organisation, along with the legal framework governing the international liability and compensation regime for ship-source oil pollution. His presentation highlighted the types of claims that can be submitted in the event of an oil pollution incident, as well as the admissibility criteria applied by the IOPC Funds.

Representatives of several Pacific Island States that are Members of the 1992 Fund participated in the symposium.

The OCPP is a UK Government initiative that supports countries in strengthening marine science expertise, developing science-based policy and management tools, and creating educational resources for coastal communities. SPREP, a regional body established by the governments of the Pacific, is mandated to protect and manage the environment and natural resources of the region.