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Spiny lobster (Panulirus pencillatus and P. versicolor) thrives abundantly off the Line Islands of Kiribati. This delicacy supplies the domestic hospitality industry and nurtures export channels, playing a key role in the country’s economy. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact by disrupting exports and jeopardizing livelihoods of people depending on this small-scale fishery.

In response to these challenges, FAO’s Sustainable Fish Value Chains for Small Island Developing States (SVC4SIDS) project is actively supporting actors and stakeholders in enhancing and upgrading the performance of the lobster value chain.

In June 2023, the SVC4SIDS project consulted various actors in Kiritimati to identify specific challenges and areas of improvement, with the aim of optimizing the performance of the lobster value chain.

Particularly, the 27^th of June marked the “Lobster value chain mapping and validation workshop” that gathered in the island of Kiritimati 16 participants from the Ministry of Phoenix and Line Island Development, Christmas Fisheries Sub-Division, World Bank PROP Programme, the island development council, petfish and lobster operators, boat owners and fishers, as well as hotels representatives. 

Throughout a comprehensive agenda, participants engaged in  3 intense and productive sessions. This provided an opportunity to discuss the basis of the value chain analysis and the development framework, the mapping of the lobster value chain and identification of key stakeholders, the challenges and improvement needs within the lobster value chain.

During the consultation process, Hon. Mikarite Temari, Minister of Line and Phoenix Development, commended the SVC4SIDS project for its alignment with Kiribati’s 2030 vision for the enhancement and sustainable exploitation of marine resources, and emphasized the potential of the Line and Phoenix. Hon. Temari expressed his gratitude to FAO for its support and reiterated his commitment to the project.

Follow-up engagement with stakeholders resulted in the endorsement of a 10-year lobster upgrading strategy. This strategy aims to strengthen domestic and international market linkages, diversify markets and products to meet food safety and quality standards as well as improving social and environmental sustainability.

Debriefing with Hon. Mikarite Temari, Minister and Mr Natario Kiati,
Secretary of Line and Phoenix Island Development (MLPD)