News

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

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Mapping Reef Fish Safety: MFOR Conducts Sampling in Maiana

As part of the ciguatera monitoring program that has been conducted in Abaiang & Kuria islands, four officers from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) are on Maiana Island conducting reef fish sampling and community surveys.
Maiana was selected for its abundant reef fish stocks, which not only attract local fishermen from nearby islands but also supply Central Pacific Producers Ltd (CPPL). Over the course of three days, the team collaborated with local fishermen from Tebikerai, Bubutei, and Tebwangetua to collect samples from 12 fishing grounds for ciguatoxin testing. The coordinates of these locations were recorded to map safe and potentially unsafe fishing areas based on the test results. In addition to sampling, the team conducted a questionnaire survey to gather local knowledge about ciguatera. This effort aims to improve risk assessments and future safety measures.
We thank the Maiana Island Council for logistical support and the local fishermen for their guidance and participation. This activity is supported by the World Bank-funded PROP project.
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Kiribati Signs Landmark Country Partnership Agreement with FFA

The Honourable Minister Ribanataake Tiwau and his team from the MFOR, represented Kiribati in the twenty fourth session of the Ministerial meeting of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) held in Niue from 22 – 24 July 2025. This is the annual meeting of the Ministers of Fisheries in the Pacific who are members of the FFA, a regional body responsible to manage and develop the regional tuna resource. There are several key important issues discussed, and decisions made during this meeting which are beneficial to the people of Kiribati, including the new flagship initiative called East New Britain Initiative (ENBi) on keeping the fish within the region through landings and processing; the payments from the Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries with the United States, among other things. One of the landmark outcomes of this meeting is the signing of the new Country Partnership Agreement between the Government of Kiribati and the FFA, which underpins the support and services of the FFA to Kiribati oceanic fisheries work. Honourable Minister Tiwau attended this year’s FFA Ministers meeting as the Chair of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA). The MFOR acknowledged the support of FFA, PNA and the gracious host the Government of Niue that enable the effective engagement of Kiribati in this meeting.

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MFOR Attends INFOFISH Forum on Fisheries Trade and Governance

One representative from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) managed to attend the INFOFISH meeting that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from the 14 to 18th July. The objective of the meeting is to review the organisational governing instrument including deliberate further on challenges pertinent to fisheries and aquacultural trading, and how INFOFISH could assist in mitigating these challenges.
Additionally, the delegate members had the opportunity to visit one of the largest processing plants in Malaysia called QL FOODS SDN BHD where it focuses in producing ready to eat products such as fish and lobster balls for domestic and international markets.
The MFOR conveys its sincere gratitude to the Government of Malaysia through the Ministry of Fisheries for their excellent hosting, INFOFISH team for the exceptional organisation, and to all INFOFISH member States for the fruitful and successful deliberations.
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Safeguarding Kuria’s Reef Fish: Ciguatera Risk Investigations Underway

Kuria Island is known for its diverse reef fish, prized for their tender and oily meat. The island has recently started supplying reef fish to CPPL in Tarawa, which then exports them overseas. To ensure the fish are safe and free from ciguatoxins, the Kiribati Seafood Verification Division, in collaboration with the Seafood Toxicology Laboratory Division and the Coastal Fisheries Division, visited Kuria to investigate and respond to concerns over ciguatera poisoning.
Working with the Island Council, CPPL, and local fishers, the team collected samples of commonly consumed reef fish from various fishing grounds. These will be analysed at a laboratory in New Zealand, with results to support risk assessments and guide future mitigation strategies. The Ministry gratefully acknowledges the World Bank’s support through the PROP and sincerely thanks the Island Council, CPPL, and local fishers for their cooperation and contributions.
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