News

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

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FAO Mission Highlights Opportunities and Next Steps for Kiribati’s Aquaculture Sector

The FAO mission visited Tarawa from 25–27 November 2025, led by Fisheries and Aquaculture Specialist Anne Maree Schwarz and Aquaculture and Mariculture Specialist Ruth Garcia Gomez. The visit aimed to assess the status and challenges of aquaculture in Kiribati, review the completed TCP/SAP/3904 project, and introduce the new TCP/SAP/4006 initiative. A workshop on 27 November brought together officials from MFOR, the Agriculture and Livestock Division, and Atoll Beauties Aquaculture Farm. Director of PDD, Ms. Taati Eria, expressed strong support for the new project while highlighting logistical issues from past activities under FAO. Participants discussed priority areas to strengthen aquaculture development. The FAO team, accompanied by National Mariculture Consultant Temama Toaiauea, also visited key aquaculture sites including the KIFL milkfish cages, MFOR’s milkfish nursery at Ambo, Atoll Beauties, Tanaea Hatchery, and the Temwaiku milkfish ponds. The mission concluded with an acknowledgment dinner hosted by MFOR Deputy Secretary Mr. Tieri Tamoa, who expressed appreciation for FAO’s continued support. DS Teue Baikarawa also stressed the need to plan the next steps for seaweed development following the completion of the previous project.

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Kiribati Joins IGF as 86th Member, Advancing Sustainable Mineral Governance

Kiribati was officially welcomed as the 86th Member of the Intergovernmental Forum (IGF) on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) during its 21st Annual General Meeting in Geneva this year. The Kiribati delegation—led by senior officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, including the Deputy Secretary and the Director of the Geoscience Division—held constructive discussions with the IGF Secretariat on priority areas for national development.
Membership in the IGF positions Kiribati to strengthen its policy and legal frameworks and to improve governance of the mineral sector, including oversight of small-scale and artisanal non-metallic mining activities. The IGF also offers access to specialized services, such as conducting environmental risk assessments that can inform rehabilitation strategies for abandoned mining sites.
Kiribati’s engagement with the IGF demonstrates a firm commitment to sustainable development, stronger institutional governance, and the protection of national interests. This partnership ensures that Kiribati is better equipped to responsibly harness the long-term benefits of its mineral resources—both within its vast ocean territory and on Banaba—for the wellbeing of its people and the resilience of its islands.
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MFOR and Agencies Trained on FFA’s Electronic Port State Measures (ePSM) System

The 2-days consultation with the fishing vessels' agencies on the electronic Port States Measure (ePSM) has come to an end on Thursday 20th November 2025. The consultation is based on the introduction of the new system being developed by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to assist members to centralize fisheries data obtained from vessels operating in ports. The staff of MFOR Oceanic Fisheries Division gained knowledge and skills on the implementation of Port State Measures.
The system offers significant benefits for Kiribati, including improved data sharing, stronger compliance capability, and greater readiness should the country choose to implement it. The MFOR expressed thanks to FFA and the team for providing this very important training to this training.
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Kiribati and KIRIKORE Advance Cooperation on Seafood Legality and Safety

A mission to Busan, Republic of Korea, was carried out from 7 to 17 November to assess the operational and food safety standards of Moamari freezer vessel. As part of this mission, two CA Officers undertook a full inspection to verify the vessel’s continued adherence to the food safety requirements and market standards for fish products harvested by one the Kiribati flag vessels. This activity underscores the Ministry’s commitment to upholding the credibility of Kiribati’s seafood exports to the international markets in particular the EU.
The delegation also convened a bilateral meeting with KIRIKORE company, the operator of Moamari, to discuss strategic avenues to maintain food safety compliance on board. Discussions centred on strengthening cooperation and enhancing compliance pertaining to the legality and eligibility of seafood products.
The Ministry extends its deepest appreciation to KIRIKORE for its continuous collaboration and to the TWP III programme for its financial support in enabling this crucial mission to be implemented.
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