The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) joined the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development (MFMRD) as they celebrated World Tuna Day. Observed on 02 May each year, the Kiribati celebration was moved to 26 May to coincide with the conclusion of the Kiribati Coastal Fisheries Summit that concluded on the 25 May 2023 in Bairiki, South Tarawa.
With the theme, Sustainable Tuna; Our Dream, Our Future, the event began with a float procession that included MFMRD, Kiribati Fishing Limited (KFL) and the Central Pacific Producers Limited (CPPL). Each creatively highlighted the valuable relationship between healthy oceans and sustainable tuna management across the vast waters of Kiribati.
In his keynote address, Minister for Fisheries & Marine Resource Development, Honourable Ribanataake Tiwau said the “purpose of the event is to ensure that this shared resource, which are highly migratory and traverses the entire Pacific Ocean, are well managed for the benefit of the current and future generations”.
TAK acknowledges that the tourism sector can draw inspiration from the MFMRD’s work in sustainable tuna fishing practices and apply them to other aspects of sustainable & regenerative tourism development throughout the islands, particularly in the recreational fishing and community-based-tourism markets.
The event concluded with the Tuna Bites culinary competition that featured some of the best tuna dishes.
