Each outer island in Kiribati has its own unique fishing practices, ways of managing coastal resources, different marine species, and many more. Because of this, the Coastal Fisheries Division (CFD) is working to collect different types of information from each island. In April 2025, the Research and Monitoring Unit of the Coastal Fisheries Division conducted creel surveys on two outer islands, Abemama (6–13 April) and Makin (mid-April). During these trips, three CFD officers worked closely with local fishers to collect important information using the IKASAVEA app. The surveys focused on how coastal fisheries are used and managed, including where people fish, the types of fish caught, fuel usage, and whether fishing areas are monitored.

Collecting this data helps the Ministry better understand local fishing activities and supports the sustainable management of coastal fisheries for future generations. The same activity was carried out on Makin Island, and the officers have now completed their work and are returning today, 23 April 2025.The goal is to carry out these surveys on all outer islands to gather valuable data that will guide better management and sustainable practices for different species across the islands.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) sincerely thanks the PROP Project for its continued funding and support in making this important work possible.