Written by MFOR Media on 08 July 2025.
Last week, the Marine Scientific Research Coordinating Committee (MSRCC) came together to review the revised draft MSR Protocol — a crucial step toward harmonizing and streamlining how we approve and monitor marine scientific research in Kiribati. This Protocol will centralize fragmented processes across stakeholders, promoting coordination, transparency, and efficiency in handling MSR applications and activities. The Committee aims to finalize this Protocol within the third quarter of 2025. Thanks to the Phoenix Island MSP Project for funding this meeting.
Written by MFOR Media on 03 July 2025.
A team of four officers from various divisions within the MFOR recently travelled to Abaiang Island to conduct a Ciguatera fish sampling collection as part of an effort to monitor and respond to ciguatera fish poisoning concerns. The trip commenced with a courtesy meeting with the Mayor and the Island Clerk, followed by the 3 days sampling activities across the villages of Tabontebike, Takarano and Ewena. Four different fishing grounds were mapped in each village to support the collection of reef fish samples for testing. The collected samples will be referred to the Cawthron Institute Laboratory in New Zealand for ciguatoxin analysis. This activity is vital to ensure that seafood products, specifically reef fish harvested within this island are safe and healthy for public consumption thus mitigating ciguatera fish poisoning. The MFOR, through the KSVD conveys its sincere gratitude to the PROP for its funding support.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF-ROK), together with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), carried out its 2025 at-sea training focused on exploring polymetallic sulphides. The programme aimed to build skills for developing countries and included an Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) from the Geoscience Division during the second part of the trip. This phase took place aboard the research vessel R/V Isabu in mid-June and focused on geological and environmental surveys in MOF-ROK’s contract area in the Indian Ocean. The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) led a hands-on deep-sea training, where the ECOP gained practical experience in using ROPOS, sediment coring, CTD profiling, and sampling marine life near hydrothermal vents. The programme boosted skills in seabed exploration, environmental monitoring, and data collection. Sincere thanks to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, for funding this programme.
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