| Project Detail |
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
A. Project Development Objective
28. PDO Statement: To improve management of selected fisheries and seafood safety in the Recipient’s territory.
Project Components
30. The Project is designed as a six-year, US$19.5 million Investment Project Financing (IPF) operation as part of the
PROP SOP and organized in four components. The Project will specifically invest in the following selected fisheries:
a. Large-Scale Oceanic Fisheries, for the purpose of this Project, refer to fisheries for highly migratory fish stocks
in the WCPO. As defined by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention, Highly Migratory Fish Stocks
are “…all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex I of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS) occurring in the Convention Area and such other species of fish as the Commission may
determine within the Convention Area, except sauries.” The Project specifically provides support for more
effective conservation and management of the primary target tuna stocks in the Kiribati EEZ (skipjack,
yellowfin and bigeye) and associated species.
b. Select Coastal Fisheries are defined in this Project as artisanal finfish and invertebrate fisheries operating
within the nearshore and coastal areas of Kiribati. Artisanal fisheries are those fisheries exploited by I-Kiribati
using powered or unpowered vessels less than 12m in length. Nearshore and coastal areas are defined as
Kiribati’s internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial seas extending out to 12 nautical miles (NM)
(Marine Zones Act 2011). The Project will focus on these species in its investments under Component 2,
including, but not limited to aquarium fisheries, bonefish sport fisheries, other reef finfish and invertebrate
fisheries and coastal tuna fisheries which are considered “Designated Fisheries” as defined by the Fisheries
Act 2010.
c. For CMM, five selected fisheries will be supported by the Project, including:
i. The skipjack tuna purse seine fishery as well as the yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna longline fishery
(also part of the aforementioned large-scale oceanic fisheries) are identified for tracking CMM of the
Project as there are substantive conservation and management design features in the project
associated with purse seine tuna fisheries and longline tuna fisheries that involve these species. CMMs
for tuna are addressed through the WCPFC, and the Project has dedicated activities that will ensure
Kiribati can meet its WCPFC obligations and strengthen its national data collection and reporting
systems with respect to these target species.
ii. The nearshore FAD fishery which is a multi-species fishery that focuses on neritic tunas as well as
tuna associated species is a third fishery for CMM development in the Project under Component 2
investments in the Gilbert Island Group.
iii. In addition, another selected species for CMM support by the Project is Bonefish (Albula glossodonta).
This species is the primary target of sports fishers visiting Kiritimati and other remote islands in
Kiribati. MFMRD has established regulations (Protection of Bonefish on Kiritimati Regulations 2008 )
for this fishery but implementing them has been a challenge. CMM related actions for this fishery fit
well with the blue economy approach proposed for Kiritimati and with planned MCS activities for
Kiritimati (under Component 1) and build on established infrastructure and services (guides, hotels,
catches) in Kiritimati. The Project will invest in tracking, post release mortality, identifying spawning
times and migration routes, working with sport fishing guides to share information on catches and
sizes to improve tracking of this particular species.
31. Component 1: Strengthening Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Large-Scale Oceanic Fisheries (US$6.62
million; comprised of US$2.20 National IDA and US$4.42 Regional IDA). This component will support MFMRD to
strengthen management and compliance of large-scale oceanic fisheries which, in turn, will function to strengthen
Kiribati’s participation and contribution to the PNA VDS and meeting its obligations with WCPFC. The activities in this
Component are organized in two sub-components:
32. Sub-Component 1.1 Strengthening Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Capacity (US$1.44 million; comprised of
US$0.48 National IDA and US$0.96 Regional IDA) The rapid growth of the Kiribati offshore fishing fleet has placed
significant pressure on MFMRD to meet its national and regional obligations for effective MCS of fishing activities in
its EEZ. This Sub-Component will finance a package of TA to strengthen Kiribati’s capacity to carry out its MCS duties.
TA for capacity building and training to support effective implementation of MFMRD IUU counter measures and
refinements to the Legal and Policy Framework will include the following:
a. The Project will finance activities to strengthen the capacity of officers to implement MCS activities to improve
IUU countermeasures, in compliance with international law. Specifically, this TA will support strengthening the
Recipient’s capacity to implement monitoring, control and surveillance activities to improve IUU fishing
countermeasures in accordance with international law, including: (i) evaluating observed and unobserved fishing
trips; (ii) carrying out studies, training and capacity building activities on compliance with the Recipient’s
obligations under Article 73 of UNCLOS and on market state measures under international law, including
implementation of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement; (iii) reviewing, updating and publishing a national
plan of action on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; and, (iv) reviewing the Recipient’s legislation and procedures, drafting and submitting updates of legislation for approval, and drafting and adopting updated
procedures, for compatibility with Article 73 of UNCLOS.
b. The Project will finance legal and policy work to support EM roll-out to the longline fleet, including through
developing: (i) a legal and policy framework for the use of the electronic monitoring and reporting systems
provided for under Sub-Component 1.2(b) of the Project, including both regulatory and procedural reform; (ii)
clear and transparent criteria for the application of reporting requirements and a template of the memorandum
of understanding to be entered into with vessel operators for installation and operation of such systems; (iii)
plans for sustaining the electronic monitoring and reporting systems beyond the life of the Project; and (iv)
arrangements to integrate external information and communications technology support.
33. Sub-Component 1.2 Investing in Improved MCS Enforcement (US$5.18 million; comprised of US$1.72 National IDA
and US$3.46 Regional IDA) Implementation of the activities indicated under this Sub-Component will be conditional
upon the Kiribati fisheries laws and regulations being consistent with provisions of Article 73 of UNCLOS, which will
be supported through the set of Project-financed activities indicated in Sub-Component 1.1. Once Kiribati is found to
be fully compliant with the conditions set out in Article 73 of UNCLOS, the Project will invest in the following activities:
a. Establishment of fit-for-purpose MCS facilities in Betio and Kiritimati. The Project will finance designing,
constructing and equipping two fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance facilities, one in Betio and the other
in Kiritimati.
b. EM/ER for vessels operating in Kiribati’s EEZ. The Project will finance installing, operating and maintaining
electronic fish catch monitoring and reporting systems in domestic Longline Vessels whose operators have signed
a memorandum of understanding based on the template referred to in Sub-Component 1.1(b)(ii) and training
MFMRD officers in respect of such systems.
c. Enhancing the regional observer program to facilitate boarding inspections of fishing vessels in Betio and
Kiritimati. To expedite boarding and inspections in the two designated transshipment ports, the Project will
finance providing tender craft to facilitate boarding inspections of fishing vessels, one in Betio and the other in
Kiritimati.
34. Component 2: Diversifying Marine-Based Revenue Streams for Outer Island Coastal Communities (US$5.97 million).
The Kiribati Fisheries (Conservation and Management of Coastal Marine Resources) Regulation 2019 provides the
framework for improved coastal fisheries management and community participation in Kiribati. This Component aims
to strengthen coastal community participation in new and existing sustainable marine-based revenue streams in the
Gilbert and Line Islands in support of the Kiribati Fisheries (Conservation and Management of Coastal Marine
Resources) Regulation 2019 by:
a. Securing the ocean economy of Kiritimati. To support development of Kiritimati’s ocean economy, this
Component will include: (i) developing a Kiritimati ocean resources master plan; (ii) developing a Kiritimati sport
fishing management plan; and (iii) supporting implementation of the Kiritimati Island Marine Aquarium Trade
Management Plan 2017; including, in each case, identifying viable options for generating long-term and
meaningful employment of women and youth in Kiritimati’s ocean economy
b. Strengthening evidence-based decision-making and compliance for coastal fisheries management. The Project
will carry out capacity building activities to: (i) strengthen national coastal resource licensing systems; (ii) enhance
community participation in coastal resource management; and, (iii) increase the capacity and operational
effectiveness of MFMRD’s Coastal Fisheries Division including providing equipment and software for electronic
reporting.
c. Accelerating development and diversification of sustainable supply chains in the Gilbert Islands. This activity
will provide a package of technical assistance and capacity building activities to identify and catalyze sustainable
fisheries supply chains in selected outer islands within the Gilbert Islands, selected from a menu of potential
activities which includes: (i) establishing a marine spatial plan for Tarawa; (ii) identifying up to four candidate
outer islands for selection in accordance with the POM and preparing and implementing sustainable supply chain
development plans for such selected outer islands in accordance with the Fisheries (Conservation and
Management of Coastal Marine Resources) Regulations 2019; and, (iii) providing training and capacity support to
catalyze development of sustainable supply chains in accordance with those plans, including providing relevant
materials and facilities, and through targeted conservation and management measures in the Nearshore FAD
Fishery.
d. Accelerating development and diversification of sustainable supply chains within the Line Islands. To facilitate
development of the small-scale fisheries sector in the Line Islands, the Project will carry out studies to evaluate
economic viability of small-scale fisheries supply chains within the Line Islands and barriers to such viability,
including a needs assessment and costing exercise for a small-scale fisheries development and production center
to be operated by Central Pacific Producers Limited.
35. Component 3: Improving Seafood Toxicology and Safety Measures in Selected Fisheries (US$4.97 million). This
Component will finance a core set of TA and civil works designed to reduce the risk of contaminated seafood and
seafood products from entering domestic and international markets. The five activities financed under this
Component include:
a. Development of a pollution and seafood toxin assessment and ecosystem management plans for Tarawa
lagoon and coastal fisheries, including studies to identify the primary affected fish species and the sources of
toxins, and implementation by MFRMD of certain actions under those plans. The Project will develop a pollution
and seafood toxin assessment and ecosystem management plans for Tarawa Lagoon and coastal ecosystems in
Tarawa and Kiritimati, including studies to identify the primary affected fish species and the sources of toxins,
and implementing activities identified in such management plans that are within MFMRD’s remit.
b. Seafood toxicology training and capacity building program. This activity will finance developing and carrying out
a training and capacity building program for MFMRD technical staff working on seafood toxicology and coastal
fisheries seafood safety, including: (i) assessing the capacity needs of such staff to operate the MFMRD
laboratories and to implement seafood safety schemes; and (ii) designing and carrying out a capacity building
and training program to meet the assessed capacity needs.
c. Design, Construction and Outfitting of the two MFMRD laboratories on seafood toxicology and coastal fisheries
research within the centralized Kiribati One Health Support Institute (KOHSI) to be located in Betio21
. The
Project will: (i) carrying out a feasibility study for designing and constructing two MFMRD laboratories on seafood
toxicology and coastal fisheries research; and, (ii) if determined to be feasible and following partial
implementation of the training and capacity building program under Component 3(b) of the Project, designing,
constructing and equipping the MFMRD laboratories.
d. Improved Seafood Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework. This activity will enhance the Recipient’s seafood
safety legal and regulatory framework including by drafting: (i) a seafood safety policy; (ii) amendments to
relevant fisheries and food safety legislation to incorporate seafood safety measures; and (iii) legislation to
support implementation of the seafood safety scheme.
e. Development of a Kiribati Seafood Safety Scheme. The Project will develop a national seafood safety scheme
for selected fish and shellfish species consumed domestically or exported, including: (i) designing and carrying
out risk assessments; (ii) developing guidance and advisory materials; (iii) costing and developing a business
model for operation of the seafood safety scheme; (iv) developing promotional and awareness raising materials;
(v) developing a staffing structure and work program for operation of the seafood safety scheme; and, (vi)
developing protocols and procedures for new MFMRD laboratories.
36. Component 4: Delivering Effective Project Management (US$1.94 million; comprised of US$1.06 million National IDA
and US$0.88 million Regional IDA). This Component will provide operational and technical assistance to the Project
Management Unit and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on Project management and implementation,
including planning, reporting and auditing.
Strategic Alignment
37. Citizen Engagement: Citizen engagement is a key feature of this Project. The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), which
forms part of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), was designed to identify methods for
actively engaging Project stakeholders during implementation. It will be used to ensure continuous citizen engagement
and consultations on the Project’s activities. The SEP provides details on how to enable women, youth and other
vulnerable groups to participate and engage in Project activities. Stakeholder engagement will involve a hands-on
approach to the establishment of consultative fora, developing terms of reference and meeting procedures, organizing
meetings, reporting on outcomes, and maintaining records about Project activities. The SEP will be updated as and when
specific activities are decided. MFMRD is responsible for updating and implementing the SEP and will ensure Project
stakeholders are proactively engaged throughout implementation using culturally appropriate consultation techniques
including: correspondence (telephone, email), one-on-one meetings, formal workshops, village council meetings, focus
group meetings, MFMRD communication and outreach program, direct communication with affected persons and project
flyers, signs and posters.
38. During implementation, consultation methods will be designed in consideration of the different sociocultural norms that
inhibit participation and input into decision-making from vulnerable groups, particularly women. Engagement of
communities and interested parties will be a key approach to ensuring that there is support for the Project and the Project
meets the needs of the end users, with appropriate mitigation in place. Where possible, stakeholder engagement will
utilize engagement structures within the national system (e.g., Island Council meetings). Ongoing stakeholder
engagement will include special outreach efforts to vulnerable groups such as women, elderly and disabled persons so
that the process is socially inclusive, and a range of stakeholder views and perspectives are represented. Stakeholder
engagement methods will include: (i) using existing advisory panels to collaborate on stakeholder liaison efforts during
implementation; (ii) initiatives to empower women in fisheries decision making processes such as inclusion on Island |
