News

News updates from the Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources.

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Empowering Beru’s Salt Farmers: Follow-Up Mission Delivers Business and Quality Training

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) Mission team, together with the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry (MTCIC), successfully carried out a follow-up mission on Beru island from 15–22 September 2025, following MFOR’s earlier visit the previous week. This joint mission was designed to build on the momentum of the Salt Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening community livelihoods and promoting sustainable economic development through local salt production.
The focus of this mission was on delivering comprehensive training for salt farmers, covering critical areas that will help improve both the quality and marketability of their products. Farmers were introduced to appropriate business models tailored to support small-scale enterprises, ensuring they can manage operations effectively and sustainably. In addition, the training emphasized the importance of proper packaging, safe handling practices, and compliance with quality standards, which are essential for gaining wider consumer confidence and expanding access to both domestic and international markets.
As part of the trip, the mission team also visited the Salt Farm in Autukia, where they observed ongoing activities and engaged with farmers to better understand current challenges and opportunities for growth. The MFOR and MTCIC teams gratefully acknowledge the World Bank through the PROP Project for their continuous support in making this initiative possible.
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Kiribati and New Zealand Advance Ten-Year Fisheries Strategy

Ambo, Tarawa – 17 September 2025
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development (MFOR), in collaboration with the Tobwan Waara Phase 3 Program (TWP3), convened the Kiribati–New Zealand Fisheries Partnership Meeting on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, at the KIFL Building in Ambo.
Serving as a Project Steering Committee, the half-day meeting brought together key stakeholders to review the progress, challenges, and future directions of MFAT-funded initiatives in partnership with MFOR. These include the Tobwan Waara Program, Te Pātui (in collaboration with New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries), CAB-Smart for Kiribati’s Marine Spatial Planning, and the Future Partners project supporting MFOR’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework assessment. All of these projects sit under the Kiribati-New Zealand Ten Year Strategy for Fisheries Development 2016-2026.
The meeting was graced by an inspiring opening address from the New Zealand High Commissioner to Kiribati, His Excellency Mr. Pati, followed by welcoming remarks from MFOR Permanent Secretary, Mr. Riibeta Abeta.
In attendance were officials from MFOR, the New Zealand High Commission in Tarawa, TWP3, New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries and MFAT representatives joining virtually from Wellington.
The primary objective of the meeting was to report on the 2024 progress and financial implementation of the New Zealand–MFOR projects, identify key delivery challenges, and develop a forward-looking action plan. It also functioned as a coordinating platform to accelerate progress on the Key Result Areas and Strategic Actions outlined in MFOR’s Strategic Plan 2024–2028, ensuring alignment with the MFAT Grant Funding Agreement.
This partnership meeting underscores the shared commitment of Kiribati and New Zealand to “To Support a healthy marine Resource base and Sustainable marine resource development that provides economic stability and food security of current and future generations of I-Kiribati”
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Workshop on BBNJ Treaty and Kiribati’s First Ocean Policy

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and line Ministries are undergoing a National Ocean Law and Policy workshop this week to understand the domestication processes of the BBNJ Treaty (High Sea Treaty), the regional declarations on preserving maritime boundaries in the face of climate change, Continuity of Statehood and the first ever National Ocean Policy for Kiribati. This workshop is supported by the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Pacific Island Forum Secretariat, and CROP and international partners who joined this meeting virtually. The MFOR acknowledged the Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni for his leadership and support to this important mission.

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Solar Salt Project Launched on Beru Island with MFOR Partnership

On Friday, 12 September 2025, a historic and significant milestone was marked on Beru Island with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Beru Island Council and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) for the development of solar salt production, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainable development, promoting and local economic growth. The MOU was signed by the Mayor of Beru, Mr Tetabo Nakara and the Deputy Secretary of MFOR. The signing celebration was witnessed by solar salt farmers from Autukia Village, Councillors, MFOR delegation and few staff of Beru Island Council. In his remarks, the Mayor acknowledged and showed his appreciation for Government’s support through MFOR for recognising and supporting this island’s unique natural resource in their development plan. He further stressed that the development of this natural resource has long been a priority, and that today’s signing signifies the formal commencement of the solar salt production project on Beru.
Two solar salts farm have been earmarked for this Project, Nein Man at Autukia Village and Nein Tabuariki at Taboiaki Village. The project already started with Nein Man and had been producing 800kg salt since Jan 2025 and will also extend to Nein Tabuariki.
Next week another team from MFOR and accompanied by MTCIC staff will visit Beru to discuss an appropriate business model, along with training on packaging, proper handling and quality standards for this project.
This project is fully supported by the World Bank through the Pacific Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP) which is managed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources.
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