Kiribati is often labeled as the country that will submerge with sea level rise due to climate change. However, the Government of Kiribati has argued against this defeating narrative and instead encouraged all I-Kiribati to see our collective future from a position of strength using our large ocean space and the rich cultural values that make us who we are.

In line with this message, The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources is pleased to present 2 completed monuments and 3 billboards bearing our strong messages as a unique, thriving, and one of the largest ocean countries in the world. The monuments are erected at the MFOR’s Tanobakoa site along the Ananau Causeway as part of its beautification efforts.

One monument is captioned, “Mauri, Welcome to Kiribati, Tuna Capital of the World”. This message signifies Kiribati’s position in the world as one of the largest tuna providers to the global market. Tuna is also the main source of protein in Kiribati, and in Tarawa, this is evident throughout the roadside markets. Tuna has been deeply woven into our cultural fabric and provides over 60% of the main revenue to the Government. We pride ourselves as the tuna capital of the world.

The other monument reminds us of the strategic value of Kiribati’s location in the world and our huge ocean, “Tiabo, See you again in Kiribati, Only Country in four hemispheres”. Kiribati is literally the only country that fits in 4 hemispheres of the world, with 3 time zones, and is the first country to see the sunrise each day. Our ocean space is the second largest in the Pacific, a size, when compared in landmass is bigger than India. This speaks volume to the resources, wealth, and potential that Kiribati possesses in its ocean domain.

These stone monuments are made possible through the financial support of the European Union, through ‘Te Tanobakoa Clean-Up Initiative’, as well as the contributions of the individual NGOs that have been part of the campaign. MFOR pleads to the public to look after these monuments and refrain from any form of vandalism or other destructive actions.