News

News updates from the Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development.

Kiribati Raises a Toast to Our Ocean: A Call for Global Action in Busan"

“Bada sarang-haeyo” is the word for “I love the ocean” in Korea. This is the toast key word for Honourable Minister Ribanataake Tiwau to the global community gathered during the high-level opening dinner of the 10th Our Ocean Conference held in Busan, Korea from 28 to 30 April 2025. The high-level opening was attended by the dignatries such as Minister of Ocean and Fisheries of South Korea Honourable Minister Kang Do-Hyung, former Secretary of State of the United States John Kerry, UN Secretary General Special Envoy for the Ocean Ambassador Peter Thompson, Honourable Ministers from around the world, including the Blue Pacific. Honourable Minister emphasized during his remarks that Our Ocean Conference represents two powers in this planet, the power of the people and the power of the biggest asset in this world – our shared ocean. The time for action is now. Kiribati was invited to the 10th Our Ocean Conference by the Government of Korea, through Honourable Minister and his Secretary Riibeta Abeta. The Government of Kiribati sincerely thanked the Government of South Korea for the privilege to participate in the Our Ocean Conference, and for making a toast during this high-level opening dinner.

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Celebrating Ocean Learning: Kiribati’s Participation in the 2025 PEUMP Conference

The 2025 Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Conference was inaugurated by the University of the South Pacific (USP) at its Laucala Campus, Wasawasa Room, in Suva, Fiji. The three-day regional gathering, themed "Advancing Ocean Learning: Navigating Knowledge in the Pacific", took place from April 14 to 16. It was a celebration of the transformative role of education, research, and innovation in the development of a sustainable ocean future.
Kiribati is extremely fortunate to have observed this celebration and acquired knowledge regarding the majority of these successful research and innovations that have contributed to the development of a sustainable ocean future that has a significant impact on the communities and the Blue continent as a whole. Kiribati acknowledged the funding support from the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership Programme (PEUMP) that has facilitated the successful participation of the Director of Coastal Fisheries in this event.
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Kiritimati Fisheries Observers Begin Crucial Refresher Training at MTC

8 fisheries observers from Kiritimati (Christmas Island) have arrived in Tarawa to undertake a 5-week refresher training at the Marine Training Center (MTC), covering Basic Safety Training Refresher (BSTR), first aid, and security awareness. These essential courses are critical for ensuring the observers’ safety and preparedness while carrying out their duties at sea, including monitoring fishing activities and supporting sustainable fisheries management. Upon completion of the training, these fisheries observers will be able to resume their very important work aboard foreign fishing vessels.

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Understanding Our Seas: CFD Completes Surveys on Abemama and Makin

Each outer island in Kiribati has its own unique fishing practices, ways of managing coastal resources, different marine species, and many more. Because of this, the Coastal Fisheries Division (CFD) is working to collect different types of information from each island. In April 2025, the Research and Monitoring Unit of the Coastal Fisheries Division conducted creel surveys on two outer islands, Abemama (6–13 April) and Makin (mid-April). During these trips, three CFD officers worked closely with local fishers to collect important information using the IKASAVEA app. The surveys focused on how coastal fisheries are used and managed, including where people fish, the types of fish caught, fuel usage, and whether fishing areas are monitored.
Collecting this data helps the Ministry better understand local fishing activities and supports the sustainable management of coastal fisheries for future generations. The same activity was carried out on Makin Island, and the officers have now completed their work and are returning today, 23 April 2025.The goal is to carry out these surveys on all outer islands to gather valuable data that will guide better management and sustainable practices for different species across the islands.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) sincerely thanks the PROP Project for its continued funding and support in making this important work possible.
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