The Oceanic Fisheries Division (OFD) is a division within the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources Development (MFMRD) that oversee the management of oceanic fisheries to ensure continued maximizing economic return from the fishery, in particular tuna, promoting and implementation of pragmatic measures advocated at the national, regional and international level for long-term conservation and sustainability of fishery resources

OFD consists of two (2) major sections which prescribes the role and responsibility of the division. The Licence Unit, on one hand, is responsible for formalization of access agreement, certification and licensing of fishing vessels and revenue collection. The Compliance Unit, on the other hand, ensures compliance by licensed vessels in accordance to international, regional and national laws. These include boarding and inspection, surveillance, observer placement and other MCS activities. The observer program, which is also housed at the MFMRD works closely with these units.

The division also work in collaboration with other Government ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Communication Transport Tourism Development (MCTTD), Customs, Police Maritime Unit (PMU), Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS) and the Ministry of Environment Lands Agricultural Development (MELAD), external bodies such as the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Pacific Community (former SPC), Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) and international tuna commissions like the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) to ensure sustainability of offshore marine resources, promote responsible fisheries and seeking innovative ways for management and development of the marine resource.

 OFD also represented at two national border security and law enforcement bodies such as the Combined Law Agency Group (CLAG) and the Fisheries Administrative Penalty Committee (FAPCOM).

The division is headed by the Director and assisted by Principal Fisheries Officers and Senior Fisheries Officers, data and enforcement officers. The total number of staff in the division is 25 (excluding observers).

The Licence Unit focuses on the licensing of fishing and supporting vessels and collection, management, analysis of offshore fisheries data such as fishing effort, catch composition, weekly position, revenue, port calls and transhipment activities from licensed fishing vessels.

The Compliance Unit, on the other hand, is the enforcement arm of the division when dealing with non-compliance issues of fishing activities conducted by licensed fishing vessels inside Kiribati EEZ. Principal to the work agenda of this unit is all about observance to fishing activities in conformity with the condition of the licence, laws and regulations of Kiribati and measures adopted at fisheries bodies to which Kiribati is a member.

In addition, the Vessel Monitoring Scheme (VMS) and Kiribati Observers (KIOB) play vital roles to support and complement the work programs and activities of these units. The division is also a participatory and core member of the border security and law enforcement cluster that includes bodies such as the Combined Law Agency Group (CLAG) and Fisheries Administrative Penalty Committee (FAPCOM) and concerned with border security issues and illegal fishing activities – globally termed Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing..

Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development

Coastal Fisheries Division

Tel: 75021099

Email: info@mfmrd.gov.ki

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