One staff member from the Coastal Fisheries Division under the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR), has successfully completed a 2-month training in Okinawa, Japan, from 16 June to 1 August 2025. The training was hosted at the Okinawa International Center in collaboration with the Okinawa Leading Professional Fishers Association and Ryukyu Environmental Management Service Co. Ltd., and generously funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The training focused on the Sustainable Use of Fisheries Resources through Diversification of Fisheries-Based Livelihoods in Island Countries, and brought together participants from Kiribati, Timor-Leste, Pohnpei (FSM), Solomon Islands, and Eritrea.

The program included visits to fisheries cooperatives, aquaculture projects, local cage farming initiatives, coral restoration sites, sea grape farms, and tuna processing operations. These hands-on learning opportunities highlighted innovative strategies to address declining fish stocks, support fisher incomes, and strengthen community resilience.

MFOR acknowledges and sincerely thanks JICA for its continued support in building regional fisheries capacity and empowering island nations like Kiribati.