Marshall Islands Spotlight: MiCOAST Project Strengthens Community-Based Fisheries Management
The Second National Ocean Symposium (NOS) opened in the Marshall Islands, bringing together government representatives, mayors, Irooj, local leaders, fishers, andstakeholders from Majuro and the outer islands. The event focused on charting the future of the nation’s oceans, strengthening collaboration, and raising awareness on fisheries laws, regulations, and opportunities for funding and partnerships.
The Marshall Islands Conservation Society (MICS), with support from the regional MiCOAST project funded by the Kiwa Initiative and the Australian Government (DFAT), showcased its work in supporting communities to review and update their Natural Resource Management Plans.
MICS engaged participants through an information booth and workshops on fishing regulations, identifying local fish names, and mapping ciguatera cases across Majuro and the outer islands. Local Resource Officers (LROs) from Ujae, Maloelap, Mili, and Lae also joined the discussions, bringing their community perspectives.
As highlighted by MICS representative Dua Rudolph: “For us, the NOS is an important opportunity to come together as a team. For the LROs, it’s a chance to learn from other islands and bring those lessons back into their Management Plans.”
This event underlines the importance of strong collaboration between national institutions and local communities to safeguard fisheries and marine ecosystems across the Marshall Islands.
