Climate and Biodiversity Smart Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Marine Protection in Phoenix Islands – support for Government of Kiribati

New?Zealand and Kiribati today signed a Funding Arrangement to work together to build capability within Kiribati for climate and biodiversity-smart marine spatial planning and protection and engage the people of Kiribati in decisions about the use of the Phoenix Islands ocean.

MFAT’s funding for this work is from New?Zealand’s climate finance commitment. Funding of AUD 1,110,000 has been allocated over the next two years, with additional funding for Technical Assistance.

Marine spatial planning requires cross-Government collaboration to represent diverse interests in the ocean, and as such the work will be governed by the Kiribati Marine Spatial Planning Coordinating Committee with representatives from across Government.

New?Zealand’s support strengthens the newly formed Committee, enabling them to work through a robust ten-step people-centred process to develop options for a sustainable, enforceable Marine Spatial Plan for the Phoenix Islands. The options will balance fisheries and marine resource extraction with protection.

Activities include data collection and analysis, facilitation and balancing various interests and diverse views, public engagement processes and legislative drafting.

The funding amplifies and validates the work the Government of Kiribati is already doing to improve marine management and incorporate climate, biodiversity as well as sustainable economic considerations into decisions, about ocean use.

The lead for this work will be the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development.

New?Zealand’s support for Kiribati is part of its Climate and Biodiversity-Smart Marine Spatial Planning initiative.