The Research Unit is one of the units under the Fisheries Division that deals with all research activities in order to provide data on status of marine resource for the formulation of management measures. The unit is manned by five staffs including Senior Fisheries Officer (SFO), Fisheries Officer (FO), Senior Fisheries Assistant (SFA), Fisheries Assistant (FA), and a Handyman (HM) in which all the activities are coordinated by the SFO.
The main objective for the unit:
Work focus:
The Research Unit mainly deals with fisheries surveys and monitoring activities that could provide data on status of marine environment and its resources in which such data could be used as an important tool for decision makers in formulating their management plans for the conservation and management of marine resources.
Current activities:
New focus for the four year plan:
The survey will point out sites for ciguatera therefore could reduce the number of ciguatera cases if potential sites are identified.
Conducting surveys on outer islands will provide current status of marine resources for outer islands on which resources need to be managed and conserved therefore such data are of vital for formulation of management plans for outer island people and could be supportive to existing bye laws.
The fisheries division initiating this activity on South Tarawa (Nanikaai-Teaoraereke) where a Marine Protected Area should be establish in between this two villages (along Anderson causeway) based on the information obtained that it is a potential site for ‘te bun’ resource and since the stock is declining, it is vital to protect such areas. Extending this program to Outer Islands could be an important tool for conserving their resources but will be more effective if proposal comes from communities’ interest.
‘te bun’ translocation will be carried out in islands where this resource is declining. Previously, there are islands that have been restocked on a trial basis; therefore this activity will also identify suitable or potential sites for restocking based on the status of trialed islands