Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Kiribati

SMALL FISH, BIG IMPORTANCE: INSHORE FISHERIES

Catch from Kiribati’s inshore fisheries is eaten locally and sold on the market. While inshore fisheries are relatively small, they have a similar value to Kiribati as its offshore fisheries. However, to maintain these benefits, sustainable management of dwindling inshore resources is key.

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Inshore fisheries in Kiribati are important to coastal communities as a source of food and income. The inshore fisheries target the coastal lagoons, reefs and shallow waters close to the islands. Kiribati’s inshore fisheries can be divided into two broad categories: subsistence fishing and com- mercial fishing. Subsistence fishing is the use of marine and coastal resources by local populations directly for food or trade, rather than for profit. It typically occurs when these products are consumed by the fisher or their family, given as a gift or bartered locally. In Pacific Island countries, coral reef fisheries are characterized by a strong predominance of subsistence fishing, with an estimated 80 per cent of coastal fisheries’ catch consumed directly by the fisher and their communities. Seafood is a key source of nu- trition for the Kiribati population, accounting for around three quarters of animal protein in the national diet (FAO, 2002). The total value of inshore fisheries in Kiribati is estimated at $AU45 million (Rouatu et al., 2017). Of this, subsistence fishing makes up the majority of the value, at approximately $AU35 million, with the remaining $AU10 million coming from artisanal fishing. The distribution of inshore fishing reflects the populations of the different islands, with the highest number of households engaged in South Tarawa (see table). However, the proportion of households compared to pop- ulation size is higher in many of the smaller islands, and an indication of the relative importance of fishing. Maintaining productive inshore fisheries is a key challenge for Kiribati in order to ensure food security and provide for livelihoods for coastal populations. This requires maintaining healthy and produc- tive coastal ecosystems (see also chapter “Home, sweet home”).

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Number of households engaged in different types of inshore fishing on the different islands of Kiribati (2010 Population Survey)

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I S AUD 45 M AUD 10 M AUD 35 M SUBSISTENCE ARTISANAL N S

Island

Lagoon reef

Collect on ocean

Ocean fishing

Reef fishing

Total population

Banaba

24

20

50

36

295

Kuria

28

116

29

104

993

Aranuka

144

199

143

168

1057

Nonouti

325

437

110

384

2683

Tabiteuea.Nth

273

429

145

380

3689

Tabiteuea.Sth

100

194

50

189

1290

Beru

156

303

177

342

2099

Nikunau

194

96

129

261

1907

Onotoa

138

237

142

235

1519

Tamana

118

2

130

122

951

Arorae

58

51

138

85

1279

Makin

152

139

173

244

1798

Teeraina

79

83

162

135

1690

Tabuaeran

128

299

194

201

1960

Kiritimati

248

628

372

374

5586

Kanton

3

5

3

5

31

Butaritari

237

474

239

450

4346

Marakei

247

390

207

383

2872

Abaiang

317

734

193

578

5502

Nth.Tarawa

414

690

245

660

6102

Sth.Tarawa

1976

3065

1581

2925

50182

Maiana

91

241

53

136

2027

Abemama

206

428

89

347

3200

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR KIRIBATI

USES

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