A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kiribati’s Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) and the Cawthron Institute was signed by Secretary Riibeta Abeta and CEO Volker Kuntzsch in Nelson, New Zealand, on 2 November 2026.
Cawthron Institute, a Nelson, New Zealand based entity, is an independent, world-renowned research organization with a 105-year track record and expertise in fisheries, aquaculture and related fields. MFOR is a Kiribati Government entity mandated to sustainably manage 3.5 million square kilometers of ocean and its abundant marine resources. This MoU brings together two leading ocean institutions with complementary roles to collaborate for the mutual benefit of their organizations, governments and peoples.
The signing was followed by discussions among Cawthron Institute and MFOR scientists on several topics like ciguatera, aquaculture, and blue foods; a tour of world-class aquaculture park facilities in Nelson, a laboratory auditing session, and a strategic discussion on future collaboration between the two organizations.
At its heart, this partnership is about the seafood on our tables, the livelihoods our waters can support, and the contribution our ocean resources make to the blue economies of both Kiribati and New Zealand.
Secretary Riibeta Abeta encouraged Cawthron Institute and MFOR colleagues to work together and to draw inspiration from the well-known Kiribati song verse: “Ko buti iaon taari, ao Ko kiba n Raku, i Moamoa.” The verse speaks to the importance of moving with speed like Marlin, collaborating as one crew aboard MV Nei Arintetongo, and steering toward a shared direction.
MFOR acknowledged Cawthron Institute and the World Bank PROP for their assistance in making this new partnership a reality and a success.