BETIO FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Vision:

To foster partnership and sustainable development of fishermen.

Mission:

To protect and improve the interest of members.
To conduct all our relationships with an emphasis on long-term mutual success and stratification, rather than short-term gain.
To earn the trust and respect of all we work with us being an NGO of honesty, integrity and responsibility.
To promote an environment of positive attitude and action to accomplish our vision.
To train and motivate members and to develop co-operation and communication at all levels.
We provide quality services to our members, development partners and stakeholders.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Betio Fishermen Association Inc. comprise of more than 100 members. 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 in the least developed country.

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 lies 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.

Our Activities:

The Association is running regular in-house trainings on Global Positioning System (GPS), Outboard Motor Engine and other safety and management trainings. This in-house training is to enhance fishers’ capacity.

We produce our weekly fundraiser, Te Tarakai newspaper. We will provide fish market, fishing items and the needs for our fishers

We are the collective voices for fishers.

Point of contact: Harry Redfern, Association Secretary, P. O. Box 152, Bairiki; Tarawa Island, Kiribati; Phone (686) 25053; Email address: betiofishing@yahoo.com;


	KO NA MAURI!