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Located in the Republic of Kiribati with an approximate population of 7 000 people, North Tarawa boasts abundant natural resources that support a high biodiversity of fauna and flora. This string of islets is uniquely positioned with year-round tidal access to productive tuna fishing grounds, making it a significant resource for local livelihoods. Sustainable management, coupled with the improved use and value addition of these resources, is essential for building resilience within the remote fishing communities of North Tarawa.

To support this effort, the FAO Sustainable Fish Value Chains for Small Island Developing States (SVC4SIDS) project, in partnership with the FAO/GEF Resilient Islands Resilient Communities Project (R2R), joined forces and conducted a four-day post-harvest fish handling and processing training in December 2024. The training took place in two villages in the northern part of North Tarawa namely Buariki and Taratai, and gathered participants from the three additional villages of Tearinibai, Nuatabu, and Nooto, and engaged 28 participants. This hands-on initiative provided participants with critical skills in post-harvest handling practices and preservation techniques like drying and utilization of tuna offcuts, along with practices that ensure improved hygiene for manufacturing food-safe products. These skills are key in unlocking new opportunities for small-scale fishers and facilitating the development of value-added seafood products.

On the second day of each training session, participants were surveyed to gauge their interest in extending these practices into small-scale, cottage-based operations. The survey results were invaluable for project teams working to identify four individuals for targeted small business development initiatives slated to be rolled out in 2025. These initiatives aim to empower local communities by fostering entrepreneurial opportunities and promoting alternative revue generating activities.

Looking ahead, one of the major focus areas will be the deployment of a community nearshore anchored Fish Aggregating Device (FAD). This technology aims to boost access to high-value tuna species by making them more accessible to local fishing communities. Additionally, a deep-water tuna fishing training program will be launched to upskill youth for commercial fishing. The training program is particularly important given that nearly 90% of male participants in the region already possess a basic understanding of deep-water tuna fishing, and this initiative will focus on building their expertise in sustainable fishing practices. Equipping local youth with this essential knowledge ensures the development of resilient livelihoods that contribute to the long-term sustainability of fishery resources, as emphasized in the FAO Blue Transformation roadmap.

Efforts like the FAO-supported training and community-led projects are vital to fostering resilience and strengthening livelihoods in remote fishing communities. These initiatives not only enhance knowledge and skills but also promote sustainable practices that ensure the responsible use of natural resources. Through sustainable exploitation of tuna and the active participation of local communities, the population of North Tarawa are taking critical strides toward a more secure future.

The R2R project aims to improve biodiversity conservation and enhance landscape/seascape level management to strengthen socioecological resilience to climate variability and change.

The R2R project has been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Agricultural Development (MELAD) of Kiribati through the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) in the development and implementation of the Integrated Environment & Natural Resources Management Plans (IENRMP) in North Tarawa, Tabiteuea North and Butaritari. A key objective of the IENRMP is to support households to utilize opportunities to improve their livelihoods. One of the specific activities under this objective focuses on value addition, post-harvest processing and marketing.