1. Historical Background

Betio Fishermen Association Inc. comprise of more than 100 members, extending outside Betio Town. These fishermen, known as I-Kiribati, are one of Micronesian descent with a well-preserved culture and maritime knowledge that provides both a Pacific and national identity.   It began with about 20 members around Saint John Bosco Primary School at Temakin, Betio. They associated themselves in December 2002 with the view to breaking the inter-generational cycle of the local fishers' low economic power naturally in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Hon Rod Gates, New Zealand Commissioner in Fiji during the 2nd South Pacific Survey Congress in April 1986, stated in his speech:  "Their national development lies not only in the resources of the land, but also in the resources of the sea and seabed.  This will present many challenges in the years ahead".  "Their potential for further industry development lays not so much in more intensive agriculture but access to and development of its large ocean resources".  (Jones 1994)

Greenpeace Pacific Australia reported that US $6 billions worth marine lives extracted by the industrial fishers and 5% of that money remains in the Pacific.  The Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development reported that 5% of millions dollars worth marine lives returned to Kiribati out of the Foreign Fishing License.

There is a potential for the local fishers to harvest those fortunes if they are given the opportunities and the support internally and externally.  They need to face the challenges before they can enjoy harvesting their resources from the sea. They have gone through the challenges in the last 6 years and now BFA is heading towards the right directions with the right will and motivationin accordance with our first Strategic Plan 2008-2011 (see under Report)

2. Governance Structure

updated: December 2008