The Oceanic and Industrial Affairs Division manages and regulates the commercial tuna fishery in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) waters, as mandated under Title 51 of the Marshall Island Revised Code (MIRC). The fishery comprises purse seine, longline, and pole and line vessels fishing under various bilateral and multilateral access agreements. Further, purse seine and longline vessels operators purchase fishing days allocated annually to the RMI under the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Vessel Day Scheme (VDS). As such, the Division administers issuance of fishing licenses pursuant to fishing access agreements negotiated between the Authority and fishing industry partners. Licensed carrier and bunker vessels also operate in support of the fishery. Go to page >>   Go to Port Entry page>>

The legal division handles legal advice to the Board and Management of MIMRA regarding fisheries legal issues at the national, sub-regional, regional and international forums. The legal division proffers legal services to both Coastal and Oceanic Divisions. For the Oceanic and Industrial Affairs Division, the legal division is tasked to review national fisheries laws that may require review against regional and sub-regional measures that are binding on the RMI as a member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Parties to the Nauru Agreement and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In addition to this obligation, the legal division assists MIMRA in legal representation in court for prosecution against fishing vessels or companies alleged to have committed unlawful acts against the national laws and regulations of the RMI in terms of fisheries cases (e.g. IUU, Contravention of Condition of Fishing License, Observer Obstruction, Misreporting, and so forth). For the past four (4) years, most cases have been settled out of court by way of summary proceedings which is accorded under the Fisheries Enforcement Act. Go to page >>

The mission of the Competent Authority is to provide regulatory framework that ensures adequate industry compliance for safe fish production, import and export; conduct inspections of fish business operators, landing sites and fishing vessel and issues health certification; Assess and recommend laboratories for product testing and provide up-to-date import and export market information; Work with relevant government stake holders with similar interest through administrative arrangements in a collaborative approach on food safety related matters nationally and globally; Pursue equivalent standards for fish production in RMI with the intent to trade safe fish products in the domestic and the international market. Go to page >>

The Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP) is a regional program supported by the World Bank in the Marshall Islands. The development objective of the Project is to strengthen the management of selected Pacific Islands oceanic and coast fisheries, and the critical habitats upon which they depend, as the basis for sustainable and increased economic benefits from this resource. With a successful closure of PROP, MIMRA foresee the capability for continuity to build on the achievements under the Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP) Phase I to a Phase II for economic resilience. Go to page >>