Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.5
Working Group on Tsunami Warning And Mitigation in the Southwest Pacific Ocean
The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Pacific,
Recognizing that the Southwest Pacific Ocean has a significant threat from local, regional and distant tsunamis,
Further recognizing that local and regional tsunami alerts for some areas of the Southwest Pacific are not covered by the PTWC,
Further recognizing the strategic recommendations for addressing tsunami risks in the region agreed at the South Pacific Tsunami Awareness Workshop Forum Secretariat, Suva, Fiji, 1–3 July 2004,
Noting the interest of Member States in the Southwest Pacific region to enhance their tsunami warning and mitigation services,
Acknowledging that a number of countries in the region are developing National Tsunami Warning Systems with already existing and planned upgrades to seismic and sea-level networks and that the PTWC provides distant tsunami warnings for the Southwest Pacific,
Acknowledging also that there may be mutual benefits to these regions and to the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Pacific from the establishment of this working group,
Further acknowledging donor support, but encourages continued effort in donor harmonization,
Decides to establish an intersessional Working Group on the Southwest Pacific Ocean with the following Terms of Reference:
Recommends that the Group be composed of representatives from members countries of SOPAC as members and observers and including, France, the Directors of ITIC and PTWC and chaired by the Representative of New Zealand, with vice-chairs from Fiji and Samoa;
Acknowledges that ICG/PTWS is the Coordination Body for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific and encourages non-PTWS Member States to contact the IOC Secretariat to request membership of the ICG/PTWS.