The Coastal Fisheries Division (CFD) is one of the major Divisions within the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources.
The primary focus of the Coastal Fisheries Division is to sustainably develop and manage the coastal and near shore marine resources to maximize economic returns and social benefits for the present and future generation of Kiribati. The CFD develops its work program in alignment with the Kiribati National Fisheries Policy and the Kiribati Development Plan.
Kiribati's nearshore and coastal areas provide food, livelihoods, and nutrition, income and employment benefits. Fisheries play a critical role in local food security in Kiribati where the per capita consumption of seafood is one of the highest in the world. Coastal fisheries also provide substantial employment and income benefits. In a recent national population census, over half of all surveyed households were engaged in fishing activities.
CFD works with Island Councils, which have direct jurisdiction over natural resource use including coastal fisheries in accordance with the Local Government Act. Councils have the authority to regulate and control fishing activity targeting coastal resources.
The enforcement of fisheries laws, regulations and generating high levels of compliance visible to the public pose a significant challenge to coastal fisheries managers. There is an urgency to boost management regimes and institutional capacity to ensure our coastal fisheries continue to be sustainable to support the Kiribati population.
Raising Awareness and Educating the Public
An important role that CFD plays is to raise awareness and educate the population. Key issues include:
- Closed seasons, closed areas and marine protected areas (MPAs)
- The marine food web
- Sustainability
- Species life cycles and stages (the importance of applying size limits)
- Effects of overfishing, use of destructive fishing gear/methods, climate change impacts, etc., to our marine resources
- Food security
CFD aims to inform and thereby empower the public on fisheries management, for instance:
- Specific dates of closures & species names, tide calendar, protected sites
- Statistics on compliance level, fisheries stock assessments, socio-economic survey results
- Feedback from stakeholders (to help improve compliance)
- Success stories (recovery of resources due to compliance to regulations and management plans)
- National monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement (MCSE) forum events, meetings, updates
- Focal points/contacts for MCSE
Kiribati National Coastal Fisheries Roadmap 2019-2036
The Roadmap's key principles guide the overall implementation:
- Recognize women, youth, and vulnerable group's contribution to coastal fisheries and promote more inclusive fisheries management platforms and livelihoods
- Recognize diverse users, their roles and responsibilities in coastal fisheries; promote community-based fisheries management (CBFM), co-management, capacity building, motivation and empowerment of communities
- Promote and strengthen partnerships and networking across all stakeholders and key players involved in coastal fisheries
- Promote ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management (EAFM)
- Promote good governance, transparency, accountability and continually updated best practice
- Promote innovation and use of information communication technology (ICT) in monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement (MCS&E)
The Overarching Outcomes of the Roadmap
Empowered Communities
Communities are well equipped, connected and have the capacity to monitor, address, withstand and build adaptive capacity to any changing conditions, from acute shocks to slow environmental shifts. Community self-sufficiency means dependence on development aid is reduced through high levels of local competence.
Effective and Conducive Coastal Governance
The governance of coastal zones, designated fisheries, and stocks are well coordinated and supported through CFD programs, with civil society roles highly integrated into governance frameworks that provide inclusive design and decision-making processes.
Healthy and Productive Coastal Fisheries
Coastal ecosystems function optimally and provide important ecosystem services despite climate change. Economically important species thrive under responsible harvesting regimes, with resource users understanding ecosystem dynamics and connectivity.
Vibrant, Healthy, Wealthy and Responsible People
Social, economic, political and physical living environments are conducive to I-Kiribati wellbeing. People develop a sense of stewardship for the ocean and actively participate in managing local fisheries resources for the benefit of all I-Kiribati.