Written by MFOR Media on 03 March 2025.
The Honourable Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ribanataake Tiwau led the Kiribati delegation (which comprised of MFOR and MFAI) convened from the 26 to 27 February in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The Honiara Summit, the high-level event on sustainable fisheries hosted by the Government of Solomon Islands, brought together Leaders and Ministers of Fisheries from the Pacific Islands. This high-level event was a platform to discuss matters of great importance on fisheries science, management, development in terms of their challenges and opportunities. Hon Minister Ribanataake delivered national remarks, engaged in several bilateral meetings with development partners, governments of Pacific Island Countries such as New Zealand, PNG, Solomon Is, Cook Is, the EU, World Bank; and gave a keynote opening remarks in one of the side events on monitoring, control and surveillance. Several new deals and arrangements were discussed including opportunities for greater cooperation that are targeted to further the development of the fisheries sector in Kiribati. The Leaders outcome of this Honiara summit will be advocated to the third session of the UN Ocean Conference to be convened by France in June 2025. The government acknowledged the Government of the Solomon Islands, the Forum Fisheries Agency, regional organizations and the various partners for their support to Kiribati’s engagements in this Summit.
A community consultation led by the Kiribati Seafood Verification Division of the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and other relevant stakeholders, was held on February 25, 2025, with one of the fishing communities in South Tarawa as part of the preparatory work for the Fish Vending Unit Project, funded by the European Union. This new initiative is being piloted in Teaoraereke West during its trial phase to enhance the safety and quality of fish and fishery products. This work is possible through the funding support of the EU Sector Support Project and the stakeholders involved in this project.
Written by MFOR Media on 24 February 2025.
Honourable Ribanataake Tiwau and his team, represented Kiribati in the important high level talanoa on deep-sea minerals in Suva, Fiji. The talanoa was mandated by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to exchange views and positions on this critical issue. In the past, the Pacific has been divided on these deep-sea minerals issue, due to possible environmental risks which calls for a moratorium pause on this activity, versus exploring the possibility of sustainably harvesting these deep sea minerals through an internationally driven process at the UN International Seabed Authority. Nevertheless, the Pacific family have embarked on an open discussion and talanoa with a view to strengthen regional approach and solidarity on this issue. Honourable Tiwau emphasized to the talanoa that deep sea minerals can be seen as an opportunity to re-affirms our sense of unity and our narrative as the Blue Pacific Continent. The opportunities include building capacity for ocean science, mitigation to climate change and realizing the benefits. However, this venture comes with huge responsibility to do justice, sustainability, custodianship and precautionary approach. This outcome of this talanoa will be reported to the next Pacific Islands Forum meeting later this year in Solomon Islands. The Ministry acknowledge the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner for convening this important talanoa.
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