itFisheries Training Centre (FTC) is a division of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development (MLHRD). It is a government owned Institute fully funded by the government of Kiribati but also receive technical and financial assistance from development partners.

Since its establishment in 1989 up to 2006, Japan Tuna Fishing Corporation (JFTC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had provided financial assistance in the areas of administration and facilities. The former provided Instructors and administrators whilst the latter assisted in the upgrading of training facilities.

A new development partner, Japan Marine Service Company Ltd. (JMS) has recently provided some training facilities and a Japanese Teacher, Mrs. Yuki Watanabe, who assisted with the training of our young men in Japanese Language from the 03rd September 2008 to 28th August 2009.

 The centre is specifically concentrating with Training Programs at regional and international level for young I-Kiribati men to be able to work on board local and foreign fishing boats.

Initially when established, on the 13th of March 1989, Fisheries Training Centre was under the umbrella of the Marine Training Center (MTC) in Betio. On the 6th of March 1995, FTC moved to current location in Bikenibeu occupying former Tungaru Central Hospital old buildings and operates on it’s own since then.
The First Course started with only 12 trainees led by three Instructors from Japan Tuna Fishing Corporation and assisted by three Locals. The first instructors involved with Fisheries Training were:

• Koori san
• Tokushige san
• Minegishi san
• Mr Tokaia Eritaia
• Mr Uakerita Kanoanie &
• Mr Benetito

The Institute has been in full operation for almost twenty years now and more than eight hundred trainees have graduated and employed aboard various Japanese and other overseas fishing Companies on different types of fishing vessels such as Purse-Seiner, Pole & Line and Long-Liners respectively. Currently, the 38th Course is running with twenty five remaining trainees after ten dismissed cases.
Amongst the Major Recruiting Agencies, approved by the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development (MLHRD), to carry out recruitment for employment with overseas fishing companies are:

• Kiribati Fishermen Services (KFS)
• Kiribati Employment Marine Services (KEMS)
• Central Pacific Producers Limited (CPPL) and
• Central Pacific Maritime Agency (CPM)

Major Employing Companies are:

• Japan Tuna Fishing Corporation (JTFC)
• Japan Marine Service Company Limited (JMS)
• Various Foreign Fishing Companies through CPPL
• Kiribati And Otoshiro (KAO) and
• others.

udin in quam.