News

News updates from the Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources.

Fourth FSMA Review Workshop Held in Majuro

The PNA 4th FSMA Review Workshop convened at PNA Headquarters in Majuro from 16-18 February 2026, where Parties officials continued deliberations on improving the eligibility criteria for vessels seeking entry into the scheme. The FSMA review has been one of the long-standing tasks of the PNAO since 2020, when the review was first raised by the PNA Ministers. The review is critical to the Parties, including Kiribati, as it basically targets reforming the scheme to elevate socio-economic benefits from the current FSMA arrangement. The outcome of this workshop will be tabled at the next PNA Official and endorsed by the Ministers' annual meeting later this year. Words of acknowledgement directed to PNAO and staff for the logistics and funding support for the workshop.

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Safety and E-Reporting Top Priorities at PNA Meeting

Safety of Observer at Sea and e-reporting remains the top priority of the 13th meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Observer Coordinators. Kiribati fisheries officers, among other 8 members of the PNA, are actively participating in the meeting held in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands from the 2 - 4 February 2026. Key discussions are centered around safety and welfare of Fisheries Observers, the PNA Chain of Custody and Observers' e-Reporting status. The officers also engaged in the intensive 2-days Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) training targeting trainers. The training upskilled our MSC trainers to be able to conduct national trainings in country. Thanks to PNAO for providing financial assistance making these meetings possible.

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National Workshop Advances Kiribati’s BBNJ Domestication

On Thursday, 12 February 2026, a national workshop was convened with key stakeholders to advance discussions on the domestication of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
The BBNJ Agreement aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction through measures such as marine genetic resources management, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building. For Kiribati, this process strengthens ocean governance, builds national capacity, and supports the long-term protection of our marine resources.
Key outcomes of the workshop included discussions on the domestication process, clarification of stakeholder roles and responsibilities, the establishment of a national BBNJ Committee, identification of focal points, and development of the draft Terms of Reference for the Committee.
This marks an important step in Kiribati’s efforts to domesticate the BBNJ agreement it has ratified, ensuring that the obligations, principles, and measures under the BBNJ framework are progressively reflected within national systems and processes. Kiribati reaffirms its’ commitment to global efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity for present and future generations.
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TYA Meets MFOR to Launch Youth Ocean Engagement Project

Tungaru Youth Action (TYA) had the opportunity to meet with the Secretariat of the Kiribati Marine Spatial Planning Coordinating Committee (KMSPCC) at the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) for an introductory meeting on the Kiribati Youth Engagement in Ocean Management (KYEOM) project.
KYEOM represents the youth component of the Climate and Biodiversity Smart Marine Spatial Planning (Cab-SMART) project supported by MFAT. Through this partnership, young people will play a stronger role in community ocean action, working alongside national stakeholders through the KMSPCC to promote sustainable ocean stewardship.
MFOR expressed its support for this collaboration and looks forward to working with Tungaru Youth Action in promoting ocean stewardship for the youth of Kiribati.
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