Kiribati's Role in Regional Fisheries Management
Kiribati, a remote island nation situated in the central Pacific, holds a pivotal role in regional fisheries management due to its vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which spans 3.55 million square kilometers—one of the largest EEZs in the world. While Kiribati itself is a small and underdeveloped country with a population of about 120,000 people, its influence on regional fisheries is substantial due to the rich marine resources, particularly tuna, within its waters. Tuna is a significant source of income for Kiribati and plays a vital role in the economies of many Pacific Island nations. As global fisheries face increasing pressure from overfishing and climate change, Kiribati's role in regional fisheries management has become crucial in promoting sustainable practices, preserving marine biodiversity, and ensuring the economic well-being of the Pacific Island nations .
Importance of Fisheries to Kiribati
Fisheries are integral to Kiribati's economy, providing employment, food security, and revenue. Tuna fisheries, in particular, dominate Kiribati's economy, accounting for over 80% of the country's revenue through licensing fees from foreign fishing fleets. In 2020, these licensing fees contributed approximately $200 million to the national economy, making up about 40% of Kiribati's GDP. The waters surrounding Kiribati are home to four key species of tuna: skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye, and albacore, with skipjack being the most abundant and commercially valuable species.
Apart from the direct economic benefits, fisheries are also vital to the food security and livelihoods of the Kiribati population. Fish constitutes a significant portion of the local diet, and many coastal communities rely on small-scale artisanal fishing for their sustenance. The nation's dependence on fisheries, combined with its extensive EEZ, places Kiribati at the center of regional and international discussions on sustainable fisheries management.
Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs)
Kiribati is a member of several key Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), which are intergovernmental organizations that oversee the conservation and management of fish stocks in international waters. These organizations play a critical role in regulating fishing activities, establishing quotas, and implementing conservation measures. to ensure the long-term sustainability of fish populations.
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is one of the most important RFMOs in which Kiribati plays a significant role. The WCPFC was established in 2004 with the primary goal of ensuring the sustainable management of highly migratory fish stocks, particularly tuna, in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The commission brings together both coastal states, like Kiribati, and distant water fishing nations (DWFNs), such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States, which have significant fishing interests in the region.
Kiribati, with its vast EEZ, is one of the key coastal states within the WCPFC, and it has been instrumental in advocating for measures that promote sustainable fishing practices. These measures include catch limits, the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs), and the enforcement of fishing vessel regulations to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
One of Kiribati's significant contributions to the WCPFC is its support for the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS), a management tool developed by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), which Kiribati is a member of. The VDS regulates the number of fishing days that can be sold to foreign vessels, effectively capping fishing effort in the region. By promoting the VDS within the WCPFC framework, Kiribati has helped establish a model for balancing economic development with conservation objectives.
The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA)
Kiribati is also a key member of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), an organization consisting of eight Pacific Island countries that manage tuna fisheries in the region. The PNA countries collectively control a significant portion of the world's tuna supply, with approximately 50 % of the global skipjack tuna catch coming from their waters. The PNA is widely regarded as one of the most successful regional fisheries management initiatives, and Kiribati's active participation in the PNA has further cemented its role in shaping regional fisheries policies.
The PNA's flagship initiative is the mentioned Vessel Day Scheme (VDS), which allocates a specific number of fishing days to each member country. These fishing days can then be sold to foreign fishing fleets, providing a valuable source of revenue for the PNA countries. The VDS has been praised for its effectiveness in controlling fishing effort and maintaining fish stocks at sustainable levels. By capping the number of fishing days and allowing countries to trade them, the VDS creates an economic incentive for countries to conserve their fishery resources while maximizing their financial returns.
Kiribati has benefited greatly from the VDS, as it has one of the largest tuna fisheries in the region. The revenue generated from selling fishing days to foreign fleets has been instrumental in supporting the country's development efforts. Additionally, the VDS has empowered Kiribati and other PNA countries to take control of their fisheries resources, reducing the influence of distant water fishing nations and ensuring that the benefits of tuna fisheries are more equitably distributed among Pacific Island nations.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Conservation Initiatives
Kiribati has taken a proactive approach to marine conservation, recognizing the importance of preserving its marine ecosystems for future generations. One of the country's most notable conservation initiatives is the establishment of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. Covering an area of over 408,000 square kilometers, PIPA was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010 and serves as a critical refuge for marine biodiversity.
The creation of PIPA reflects Kiribati's commitment to balancing economic development with environmental conservation. While the country relies heavily on its fisheries for revenue, it has also recognized the need to protect key ecosystems from the pressures of overfishing, climate change, and other environmental threats. PIPA provides a sanctuary for tuna and other marine species, allowing fish populations to replenish and contributing to the overall health of the regional marine environment.
In addition to PIPA, Kiribati has been involved in various regional and international initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable fisheries management and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The country has worked closely with international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) and the World Bank to strengthen its fisheries governance framework and improve monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) capabilities.
Challenges Facing Kiribati in Fisheries Management
Despite its significant role in regional fisheries management, Kiribati faces a number of challenges that threaten the sustainability of its fisheries and the long-term well-being of its people.
Overfishing and Resource Depletion
Overfishing is one of the most pressing challenges facing Kiribati's fisheries. The demand for tuna, particularly from distant water fishing nations, has led to increased fishing pressure in the region. While the VDS and other management tools have helped regulate fishing effort, there are concerns that certain tuna stocks, such as bigeye tuna, are being overfished. If these trends continue, Kiribati's fisheries could face significant declines in fish populations, which would have severe economic and environmental consequences.
Climate Change
Climate change poses another major challenge to Kiribati's fisheries. The country is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and changes in sea temperature. These changes can affect the distribution and abundance of tuna and other fish species , potentially leading to shifts in fish migration patterns and reductions in fish stocks.
Kiribati's ability to adapt to these changes is limited by its small size, remote location, and lack of resources. The country has called for greater international cooperation and support to help Pacific Island nations mitigate the impacts of climate change and build resilience in their fisheries sectors .
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing
IUU fishing remains a significant challenge for Kiribati and other Pacific Island nations. The vastness of Kiribati's EEZ makes it difficult to effectively monitor and control fishing activities, and IUU fishing vessels often operate in the region with impunity. IUU fishing undermines the efforts of Kiribati and its regional partners to manage fisheries sustainably, as it leads to overfishing and depletes fish stocks.
To however combat IUU fishing, Kiribati has strengthened its MCS capabilities by investing in technology such as satellite-based vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and collaborating with regional partners to improve information sharing and enforcement., the country continues to face challenges in fully addressing the issue due to limited financial and human resources.
Conclusion
Kiribati plays a critical role in regional fisheries management due to its vast EEZ and rich tuna resources. As a member of key regional fisheries management organizations, such as the WCPFC and the PNA, Kiribati has been instrumental in promoting sustainable fishing practices and ensuring that the benefits of fisheries are more equitably distributed among Pacific Island nations. Through initiatives such as the Vessel Day Scheme and the establishment of marine protected areas like the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, Kiribati has demonstrated its commitment to balancing economic development with environmental conservation.
However, Kiribati faces significant challenges in its fisheries sustainably. Overfishing, climate change, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing all pose threats to the long-term health of managing the country's marine resources and the well-being of its people To address these challenges, Kiribati will need continued support from the international community and regional partners to strengthen its fisheries governance framework, improve monitoring and enforcement capabilities, and build resilience in the face of climate change.
As global demand for tuna continues to grow and the impacts of climate change become more pronounced, Kiribati's role in regional fisheries management will remain crucial in shaping the future of fisheries in the Pacific region.