Tourism Watch: June 2026 visitor spending in the wider U.S. market rose slightly to $1.98bn (+0.6%) with 858,577 arrivals (+0.2%), but stays shortened to 7.86 days (-11.3%), while average daily spend jumped to $293 (+13.2%). Maritime & Environment: A new global study says drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) affect more than half of the world’s protected marine areas, with 6,324 strandings recorded across 174 protected areas (2007–2023), pushing calls for tighter limits, better tracking, and stronger company responsibility for retrieval. Blue Economy & Local Innovation: Tahiti Marine says it has achieved a “world-first” by breeding two endangered sea cucumber species in captivity, using controlled spawning basins to support conservation and potentially protect luxury seafood supply chains. Regional Governance & Security: Governor Pulaali‘i Nikolao Pula reaffirmed a formal request for a permanent U.S. Coast Guard station in American Samoa, including cutters, patrol capacity, and stronger search-and-rescue to respond to trafficking and illegal fishing concerns. Ocean Policy & Business Risk: A U.S. company’s deep-sea minerals exploration proposal covering an area beyond national jurisdiction between Kiribati, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia is open for public comment until 3 August, as Pacific groups question unilateral licensing while international rules at the ISA are still being negotiated. Aviation Connectivity: Easter Island’s Mataveri airport is highlighted as a critical diversion option for long-haul South Pacific flights, supporting the feasibility of routes using long ETOPS-rated aircraft like the Airbus A350. History & Identity: A feature revisits France’s colonization of Tahiti, from protectorate to annexation, and the resulting resistance and cultural upheaval.