Japan Donates Boats, Engines To Kiribati
The Japanese Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Foundation has donated to the Kiribati government 16 fiberglass boats and outboard motor engines.
Secretary for Fish and Marine Resources Peter Tong says eight islands willl be given these boats for the development of their local fishing operations.
He named the recipient islands as Arorae, Tamana Beru and Onotoa in the South and Makin, Butaritari, Banaba and North Tarawa in the northern district.
All these islands have their own ice plants also donated by the Japanese government, and the provision of these boats could boost local production, trading and export to Kiribati's State Fishing Company, which sells fish locally and to neighboring countries such as Nauru, Tuvalu, Fiji and the Marshall Islands.
Secretary Tong said local fishermen can hire these boats from their respective councils.
