Marshall Islands upgrades tuna value chain with new machinery and training

The FISH4ACP programme supported the Marshall Islands to modernize its tuna industry and improve the local value chain.

Working with the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) and industry partners, the initiative aimed to turn the country into a primary hub for tuna landings rather than a site for transshipping fish to other vessels. The programme introduced the Star Loader to mechanize the unloading of tuna from purse seiners into freezer containers.

This technology replaced manual labor, which was slow and risked fish quality in tropical heat. The new system more than doubled the speed of loading fish into containers during its first year of operation. FISH4ACP also invested in human capital by training more than 125 local workers in food safety, hygiene, and the maintenance of refrigerated shipping containers.

The programme organized study trips to the Seychelles and the Federated States of Micronesia so that fisheries officials could learn from international peers. It also focused on gender equality and youth recruitment, leading several local companies to improve working conditions for women and encouraging students to pursue careers in the sector. To ensure these improvements continue after the programme ends this year, a multi-stakeholder platform called MI-FISH was established in 2022.

This group will focus on meeting market-access requirements for the European Union and turning completed feasibility studies into new investments.