A team from the Coastal Fisheries Division (MFOR) successfully conducted sea cucumber stock assessments on Kiritimati, Abaiang, and Butaritari. The units involved in the assessments included the Research and Monitoring Unit (Ambo) and the Kiritimati Branch. The team spent two weeks on each island, carrying out in-water surveys using SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and shoreline walking methods.

The stock assessment forms part of the ongoing monitoring program aimed at evaluating the status of wild sea cucumber populations. Sea cucumbers are slow-moving animals, making them easy targets for harvesting and highly vulnerable to overexploitation if proper management and enforcement measures are not in place. As Kiribati has opened its sea cucumber fishery, conducting regular stock assessments is essential to determine the condition of wild stocks.

These assessments help determine whether sea cucumber populations remain healthy enough for harvesting, based on threshold levels established from species density observed during surveys. Furthermore, the results will guide fisheries managers in developing sustainable management strategies to ensure that sea cucumber species are not depleted.

The team sincerely acknowledges the communities of Kiritimati, Abaiang, and Butaritari for their cooperation and support during the surveys, and extends appreciation to the PROP Project for its financial support in implementing this program.