AGP Executive Report

Ocean Photography in the Spotlight: The Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 has named French photographer Julien Anton the overall winner for a seahorse portrait featuring a male with two juveniles, shot in Moorea, French Polynesia. Female Fifty Fathoms Award: British photographer Jenny Stock won the Female Fifty Fathoms Award for a green turtle image captured in French Polynesia, part of a wider portfolio celebrating women pushing ocean photography forward. More Winners, More Ocean Stories: The awards also highlighted categories ranging from hidden-world marine life to adventure and conservation impact, with runner-up selections spanning seabed to surface and spotlighting how people connect with the sea. Pacific Sports Roundup: Pacific athletes kept racking up medals and records across disciplines, including Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia competitors at the Mediterranean Games and major Oceania sporting milestones.

Ocean Photography in the Spotlight: French photographer Julien Anton won Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 with a Moorea, French Polynesia seahorse portrait—two tiny juveniles turning back in choppy dark water—while Teahupoʻo’s surf also scored a major Adventure category place for Ben Thouard. Regional Arts & Sports Buzz: Pacific sporting stars kept racking up medals and records, from Wallis and Futuna’s Steven Mailagi (shot put) and New Caledonia’s Felise Vaha’i Sosaia (javelin) at the Mediterranean Games to Tahiti’s Ekiden Tahiti drawing 700 runners. Pacific Islands Forum Wrap: Leaders meeting in Palau put political leadership and regionalism at the center, with debate swirling around security pressures and how to respond to major-power moves. Tech Policy, Not Just Entertainment: Australia’s “digital duty of care” proposal would let users switch off algorithmic feeds and set stricter rules for harms to children online. Governance & Identity: U.S. regulators clarified that banks can use state-issued mobile driver’s licenses and other verifiable digital credentials for customer identity checks.

Ocean Photography (Tahiti/Teahupoʻo): The Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 winners are out, with French photographer Julien Anton taking the top prize for a seahorse portrait shot in Tahiti—plus a Teahupoʻo surfer earning second place in the Adventure category. Pacific Sports: A busy week of Pacific sporting success spans athletics, rugby, soccer and more, from Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia medal moments to Ekiden Tahiti drawing 700 runners. Tourism & Media Image: A classic “Tahiti Looks Nice” TV ad is being used to challenge the “honeymoon-only” stereotype, with tourism voices pushing a broader view of what French Polynesia offers. Regional Politics (PIF): Pacific Islands Forum leaders leave Palau after another summit that stops short of condemning China’s missile test, choosing “registering concern” instead. Entertainment Industry (Los Angeles): DPA is set to bring its pre-Emmys gift suite back to Los Angeles on Sept. 12–13, spotlighting luxury and emerging brands for TV stars. Tech & Identity (Global, not local): Nigeria fully digitizes academic credential verification, while US regulators clarify how mobile driver’s licenses and other digital credentials can be used for bank identity checks.

Ocean Photography: Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 winners are out, with French photographer Julien Anton taking top honours for a seahorse scene in Moorea, alongside category wins including Jenny Stock (Female Fifty Fathoms), Mitsuna Kawai (Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds), Rui Duarte (Human Connection), Gergo Rugli (Adventure) and James Ferrara (Conservation Impact). Digital Safety Law: Australia’s “My Feed, My Way” draft would shift from age checks to a legal digital duty of care, letting users switch off algorithmic feeds and setting platform obligations to curb harms to children. Biometrics & Identity Rules: US regulators say state-issued mobile driver’s licences and other verifiable digital credentials can be used for bank identity checks under existing rules, offering clearer guidance for financial institutions. Online Child Protection (UK): The UK moves toward device-level child protections for major platforms, with new primary legislation aimed at age assurance and stopping access or sharing of nude images. Security Tech Governance: A RAND Europe report urges tighter justification, oversight and human-rights safeguards for biometric ID, digital ID and AI in security work. Tahiti Tourism Image: A new push to shake off Tahiti’s “elite honeymoon” label leans on the famous “Tahiti Looks Nice” ad—now reframed to highlight broader appeal. Regional Sports Buzz: Pacific athletes keep stacking medals and records, from Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia at the Mediterranean Games to Samoa’s pickleball success and rugby milestones. Luxury Travel: SeaDream Yacht Club announces SeaDream III, its first new yacht in 25 years, with bookings opening now; Seabourn also opens its 2029 World Cruise featuring stops including the South Pacific and Bora Bora.

Ocean Photography: French photographer Julien Anton won Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 with a Moorea (French Polynesia) seahorse portrait, while UK photographer Jenny Stock took the Female Fifty Fathoms Award—spotlighting the ocean’s wildlife and fragility through more than 15,000 entries. Sports Roundup: Pacific athletes kept stacking medals and records, from Wallis and Futuna’s Steven Mailagi (shot put) and New Caledonia’s Felise Vaha’i Sosaia (javelin) at the Mediterranean Games to rugby and other standout performances across the region. Tourism & Image: A story revisits the old “Tahiti Looks Nice” honeymoon stereotype and notes Tahiti Tourism is pushing a broader appeal beyond jet-set couples. Conservation & Film Lore: Tetiaroa—Marlon Brando’s Polynesian atoll—continues to deliver conservation wins, with a recent survey recording 15,614 green sea turtle hatchlings. Luxury Travel: SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III for July 2029, and Seabourn opened bookings for a 2029 world cruise that includes Bora Bora and Easter Island.

Tahiti Tourism Image Reset: A classic 1970s “Tahiti Looks Nice” TV ad is still shaping perceptions, but Tahiti Tourism is pushing back on the honeymoon-only stereotype and highlighting broader appeal beyond jet-setting couples. Pacific Islands Forum Diplomacy: Leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, choosing a “registering concern” approach while also advancing regional security and policing coordination. French Polynesia Conservation Spotlight: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll—once a movie-location discovery—remains a protected marine haven, with recent monitoring recording over 15,600 green sea turtle hatchlings. Luxury Travel Watch: Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise featuring rare South Pacific and Marquesas-area stops, while SeaDream announced its first new ship in 25 years, SeaDream III, set to debut in July 2029.

Pacific Islands Forum in Palau: Leaders again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, opting to “register concern,” while also reshaping the forum’s calendar with a new annual police ministers meeting. Tourism Image Shift: A classic 1970s ad line—“Tahiti looks nice”—is still echoing, but Tahiti Tourism is pushing back against the “elite honeymoon” stereotype and selling a broader island experience. Maritime Luxury Watch: SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, set to debut in July 2029 with room for about 200 guests and a more expanded global itinerary. World Cruise Buzz: Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 “Iconic Islands & Remote Horizons” voyage from Miami to Lisbon, including stops like Easter Island and Bora Bora and reaching 58 destinations across 31 countries. Conservation Spotlight: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa legacy is highlighted by a new survey counting over 15,600 green sea turtle hatchlings at the protected atoll.

Pacific Islands Forum diplomacy: Leaders in Palau “registered concern” but stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, underscoring how regional security choices are becoming a geopolitical litmus test. Regional hosting spotlight: Nauru is set to be endorsed as the next Pacific Islands Forum host, with a shift in its famously tight media access likely on the cards. Tahiti’s image makeover: A classic 1970s “Tahiti looks nice” TV ad still haunts perceptions of Tahiti as an elite honeymoon stop, but tourism messaging is pushing a broader, more everyday appeal. Maritime luxury with Polynesian pull: Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise that includes Bora Bora and other South Pacific highlights, while SeaDream announced SeaDream III—its first new ship in 25 years—aimed at intimate, family-style cruising. Conservation and culture tie-in: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa story continues to resonate as new survey counts highlight the atoll’s thriving green sea turtle nesting and hatchlings.

Tourism Image Shift: Tahiti is pushing back against the “elite honeymoon” stereotype tied to the 1970s “Tahiti Looks Nice” Cussons ad, with tourism voices stressing the islands’ broader appeal beyond couples-only travel. Regional Politics: Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Palau again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, choosing a “registering concern” approach while also advancing forum reforms and adding a new annual police ministers meeting. Maritime Luxury (South Pacific links): Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 “Iconic Islands & Remote Horizons” world cruise from Miami to Lisbon, featuring rare stops including Bora Bora and Easter Island, plus extended stays. New Yacht Debut: SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, entering service in July 2029 with about 200 guests and a family-style, highly personalized onboard experience. Conservation Spotlight: A new look at Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa legacy highlights major green sea turtle hatchling counts from ongoing atoll monitoring, underscoring French Polynesia’s protected marine success story.

Pacific Islands Forum & Security: Pacific leaders meeting in Palau again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, choosing “registering concern” while also reshuffling regional dialogue and adding a new annual police ministers gathering. Regional Hosting Spotlight: Nauru is set to be endorsed as the next Pacific Islands Forum host, with a likely shift in its famously tight media access ahead of the 2028 leaders’ meeting. Tahiti’s Image Shift: Tourism in French Polynesia is pushing back against the “elite honeymoon” stereotype tied to the classic “Tahiti looks nice” TV ad, arguing the islands are for far more than couples. Maritime Luxury (Bora Bora in the mix): Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise that includes Bora Bora and other South Pacific highlights, while SeaDream announced SeaDream III—its first new ship in 25 years—scheduled to enter service in July 2029. Conservation & Culture: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa story continues to resonate, with recent monitoring reporting thousands of green sea turtle hatchlings at the protected atoll. Entertainment Industry Tie-In: DPA is bringing its pre-Emmys gift suite back to Los Angeles on September 12–13, spotlighting luxury brands and TV talent.

Pacific Islands Forum & Security: Pacific leaders meeting in Palau again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, opting to “register concern” while also reshaping the Forum’s calendar with a new annual police ministers gathering. Tourism Image Reset: A classic 1970s TV ad tagline—“Tahiti looks nice”—is still echoing, but Tahiti Tourisme is pushing back against the honeymoon-only stereotype. Maritime Luxury (South Pacific links): Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 “Iconic Islands & Remote Horizons” world cruise, including Bora Bora and Easter Island, while SeaDream announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, with voyages starting in 2029. Conservation & Culture: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa legacy continues to pay off for marine life, with a recent survey reporting 15,614 green sea turtle hatchlings and dozens of nesting females. Entertainment Industry: DPA’s pre-Emmys Gift Suite returns to Los Angeles on September 12–13, spotlighting TV stars and luxury brand experiences.

Pacific Islands Forum & Security: Leaders wrapped up the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau without condemning China’s July missile test, opting instead to “register concern,” while also reshaping regional security calendars with a new annual police ministers meeting. Tourism & Image: Tahiti is pushing back against the “elite honeymoon” label tied to the 1970s “Tahiti looks nice” TV ad, with tourism officials stressing the islands’ broader appeal beyond couples. Marine Conservation (French Polynesia): Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll continues to deliver conservation wins, with a recent survey counting 15,614 green sea turtle hatchlings and dozens of nesting females and nests. Luxury Travel (Cruises): Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise aboard Seabourn Quest, including Bora Bora and Easter Island among many rare stops. Yachting (Cruise Industry): SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, set to debut in July 2029 with about 200 guests and a family-style onboard feel.

Pacific Islands Forum & Security: Leaders leaving Palau’s summit again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, opting to “register concern” while also reshuffling the Forum’s dialogue partners and adding a police ministers meeting to the calendar. Regional Arts & Tourism Image: A classic 1970s TV ad line—“Tahiti looks nice”—is still shaping perceptions, but Tahiti Tourisme is pushing back on the “elite honeymoon” stereotype and pitching the islands for broader travel tastes. French Polynesia Conservation Spotlight: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll—once a movie-location discovery—continues to deliver conservation results, with biologists reporting 15,614 green sea turtle hatchlings in a recent survey. Cruise Culture (Maritime Lifestyle): SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, with reservations opening and a July 2029 debut; meanwhile Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise that includes Bora Bora and other South Pacific highlights. Travel Buzz: A new “happiest vacation destinations” ranking put Bora Bora (French Polynesia) among the top spots, reinforcing the islands’ pull beyond just romance.

French Polynesia Tourism Branding: A classic 1970s Cussons “Tahiti Looks Nice” soap ad helped cement the “elite honeymoon” image, but Tahiti Tourism is pushing back—arguing the islands are for far more than couples and jet-setters. Regional Security & Diplomacy: Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Palau again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, opting to “register concern,” while also reshaping the forum’s calendar with a new annual police ministers meeting. Maritime Luxury (French Polynesia-adjacent): Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise with rare South Pacific calls including Bora Bora and Easter Island, while SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III—its first new ship in 25 years—set to debut in July 2029. Conservation Spotlight (Tetiaroa): Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll continues to deliver conservation wins, with a recent survey recording over 15,600 green sea turtle hatchlings and dozens of nesting females. Pacific Leadership (Nauru): Nauru is set to be endorsed as the next Pacific Islands Forum host, with a shift expected in how the country handles media access ahead of its 2028 summit role.

Pacific Islands Forum: Leaders wrapped up in Palau without condemning China’s July missile test, opting instead for “registering concern,” while also reshuffling the forum’s dialogue structure and adding a police ministers meeting to the calendar. Regional Hosting: Nauru is set to be endorsed as the next Pacific Islands Forum host, with a likely shift toward easier media access after years of tight controls. Tahiti Tourism Image: A classic 1970s “Tahiti looks nice” ad is still shaping perceptions, but Tahiti Tourism is pushing back on the honeymoon-only stereotype and spotlighting broader travel appeal. Maritime Luxury (South Pacific links): SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, debuting in July 2029 with around 200 guests and a more expansive global itinerary. Conservation Spotlight: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll continues to deliver conservation wins, with recent monitoring recording over 15,600 green sea turtle hatchlings. Cruise Watch (Bora Bora): A new Seabourn 2029 world cruise opened bookings, featuring rare island calls including Bora Bora and Marquesas stops. Hospitality & Work: DPA’s pre-Emmys gift suite returns in Los Angeles, underscoring how entertainment events keep spotlighting luxury brands and TV talent.

Pacific Islands Forum Watch: Leaders in Palau again stopped short of condemning China’s missile test, choosing “registering concern” while also reshaping the forum’s calendar with new police ministers talks. Regional Leadership: Nauru is set to be endorsed as the next Pacific Islands Forum host, with a planned shift in how the island state handles media access. Tahiti Tourism Image: A classic 1970s “Tahiti looks nice” ad is being blamed for the honeymoon-only stereotype, as tourism teams push a broader story of Tahiti beyond elite couples travel. Maritime Luxury (French Polynesia links): SeaDream Yacht Club announced SeaDream III, its first new ship in 25 years, debuting July 2029 and expanding its intimate, family-style cruising. Conservation Spotlight: Marlon Brando’s Tetiaroa atoll continues to deliver results, with recent monitoring recording over 15,600 green sea turtle hatchlings—another reminder of French Polynesia’s living heritage. Cruise Buzz: Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise that includes Bora Bora and the Marquesas, positioning the South Pacific as a major draw for long-haul travelers. TV & Lifestyle Industry: DPA’s pre-Emmys gift suite returns to Los Angeles with a two-day luxury gifting experience for television’s biggest names.