Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsfor a world without hunger
� The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. Part I Overview and main indicatorsPart II Narrative (2017)
Additional information⇧Part I Overview and main indicatorsPart I of the Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profile is compiled using the most up-to-date information available from the FAO Country briefs and Statistics programmes at the time of publication. The Country Brief and the FAO Fisheries Statistics provided in Part I may, however, have been prepared at different times, which would explain any inconsistencies. Country briefPrepared: May, 2018 Samoa has a population of 195 000 (2016), a land area of 2 935 km2, a coastline of 447 km, and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 129 000 km2. Fisheries’ contribution to GDP in 2014 was 3.5 percent of national GDP. In 2015, exports of fish and fishery products were valued at USD 13.4 million and imports at USD�8.6�million. Fish and fishing is important to Samoa, both economically and socially. Over 30 percent of all exports of the country consisted of fishery products. About a quarter of all households received some income from fishing. Total fisheries production was estimated at about 8�700�tonnes in 2015, the bulk of which came from capture fisheries. The production from freshwater aquaculture ponds amounted to 13 tonnes of Nile tilapia. Per capita consumption of fish and fisheries products amounted to 48.5 kg/year in 2013, accounting for about 24 percent of animal protein. In 2015, 21 long liners, most under 12 meters LOA were reported along with 53 bottom / trolling vessels under 12 meters LOA. In 2015, 18 women and 68 men were reported as full-time aquaculture employees. During the same period 440 men were reported to work in deep-sea fisheries. In total, an estimate of over 10 000 people has been made for engagement in subsistence fisheries. Offshore fisheries consist almost exclusively of tuna longlining, from small Alia catamarans and from much larger mono-hull vessels. Coastal fishing is undertaken by villagers operating in shallow lagoon waters adjacent to their lands, and is for both subsistence and commercial purposes. Aquaculture is not a traditional practice in Samoa, except for a traditional form of giant clam ranching that was practiced on village reefs or in lagoons where a community placed giant clams in a fenced off area for a special occasion or reserves for seafood supply in bad weather. Significant aquaculture activities did not occur until the 1980s when several trials pertaining to farming tilapia, freshwater and marine prawns, oyster, eucheuma seaweed, green mussels and giant clams were investigated. As the village giant clam nurseries are oriented to enhancing the wild stock, aquaculture harvesting is limited to tilapia. Aquaculture production in recent years was only 4 to 5 tonnes of Nile tilapia. Samoa is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and central Pacific Ocean. Samoa is also a party of several treaties and agreement. General geographic and economic indicators Table 1 - General Geographic and Economic Data - Independent State of Samoa
*Value converted by FAO as per UN currency exchange rate Key statistics
Source: FAO Country Profile FAO Fisheries statisticsTable 2 in this section is based on statistics prepared by the FAO Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Unit and disseminated in YYYY. The charts are based on the same source but these are automatically updated every year with the most recent statistics. Table 2 — FAO fisheries statistics - Independent State of Samoa
Please Note:Fishery statistical data here presented exclude the production for marine mammals, crocodiles, corals, sponges, pearls, mother-of-pearl and aquatic plants. Updated 2017⇧Part II NarrativePart II of the Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profile provides supplementary information that is based on national and other sources and that is valid at the time of compilation (see update year above). References to these sources are provided as far as possible. Production sector Samoa consists of two main islands, Upolu and Savaii, and two inhabited but much smaller islands, Manono and Apolima. In addition, there are several uninhabited, little islands and large rocks. Because the islands of Samoa are relatively new in a geological sense, the lagoons are fairly small and consequently the inshore fishing areas are limited compared to those of many other Pacific Island countries. Fish and fishing are important to Samoa, both economically and socially. Fish (fresh, frozen and canned) is an important feature of the Samoan diet and, on average, households consume fish most days of the week. Fish is also one of Samoa’s most important exports. Both subsistence and commercial fishing are significant occupations in Samoa. Fisheries statistics can be presented in different forms, to cater for different purposes. In the Samoa statistics published by FAO (Part 1 of this profile) the presentation follows the international conventions and standards used by FAO and its Member States for reporting catches, which are given by the flag of the catching vessel. Accordingly, the fishery and aquaculture production of Samoa in 2014 published by FAO (Part 1) was 7�506�tonnes. In Table 3 below, the Samoa fishery production statistics include the catch by Samoa-flagged vessels, the catch by small boats operated by Samoan nationals and the catch from fishing activities that do not involve a vessel (e.g. reef gleaning). The offshore category in the table is defined as the catch from Samoa-flagged, industrial-scale fishing operations that are carried out anywhere in the western and central Pacific Ocean (i.e. inside or outside Samoa waters). Table 3: Samoa fisheries production in 2014 (as per FAO reporting standards)
The amounts of production given in the above table differ from those shown in Part 1. The table consists of production estimated from a variety of sources (see SPC study below), whereas the quantities reported in Part 1 are generally what is reported to FAO by the Samoa Fisheries Division. The major difference appears to be in the estimates of commercial/subsistence coastal fisheries production. A recent study by the Pacific Community (SPC) presents the fishery statistics of Samoa in a different way from that of FAO. The SPC study reports the amount of catch in Samoa fishery waters, regardless of vessel flag. In the study, the catches are placed in different categories, which is useful for other purposes. A summary of the fishery production from the SPC study is given in Table 4 below. The catches reported in Tables 3 and 4 are identical due to the lack of fishing by foreign-flagged vessels in Samoa waters in 2014. In 2015, however, there was a significant amount of fishing in Samoa waters by foreign-flagged vessels (Fisheries Division, 2016). Table 4: Fisheries production in Samoa waters
Some comment is required to explain the difference between the information in this table and that in Part 1 of this profile. The estimates in Table 3 and 4 were made by a study carried out by SPC in 2015 that examined a large number of fishery and economic studies covering the last two decades. Marine sub-sector The main components of the marine fisheries are the offshore tuna longline fishery and the coastal subsistence and commercial fisheries. There is also some pelagic trolling by small vessels and deep-slope bottom fishing. Catch profile Estimates of the volumes and values of catches of the four main commercial species of tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) area have been made by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) using data sourced from SPC’s Oceanic Fisheries Programme (Table 5). Table 5: Volume and value of the catch by the Samoa-flagged offshore fleet
There is a large range in the various estimates of Samoa’s coastal fisheries production:
The Fisheries Division Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014–2015 stated that the troll fishery landed an estimated 319�tonnes with an estimated value of WST�2.2�million (USD�0.92�million) at the main fish markets in Samoa. The same report indicated that the bottomfish fishing fleet landed an estimated 10.3�tonnes of fish at the main fish markets. Landing sites Most locally based offshore vessels unload their catch in Apia, the capital and largest urban area. Some of the smaller alia longliners (when they are operating) offload catch at smaller landing sites, especially at the east and west ends of the island of Savaii. Subsistence and coastal commercial fishery landings occur at villages throughout the coastal areas of the country, roughly in proportion to the distribution of the population. Much of the coastal commercial catch is transported by road for sale in urban areas. Some is sold on the roadside.Fishing practices/systems The early history of offshore fishing in Samoa is described in Vunisea et al. (2008). Two surveys of the tuna and baitfish resources of Samoa were undertaken by the United States National Marine Fisheries Service, the first in February/March 1970, and the second in March 1972 and January/February 1973. These surveys found that skipjack tuna was abundant, but baitfish resources for pole-and-line operations were limited. SPC’s Skipjack Survey and Assessment Programme conducted a tuna-tagging cruise in Samoan waters in June 1978 and February 1980. Pole-and-line fishing operations by locally based vessels have only been attempted on a small scale in Samoa. The Samoan Government acquired a 16�tonne Japanese-style pole-and-line vessel (Tautai Samoa) in early 1978. This vessel was used for training and exploratory fishing until August 1980, resuming operations in 1982. Catches recorded by this vessel were low, at around 8�tonne, during 1979 and 1980. In support of this operation, the Fisheries Division, with financial assistance from FAO/UNDP, attempted to culture mollies in 1978 as baitfish for pole-and-line fishing operations. This project was terminated in 1982/83 because of the high costs and low catch-to-bait ratio. The next development in offshore tuna fishing came as an offshoot of small-scale tuna fishing around fish aggregation devices (FADs). This included the development of the alia catamaran (Box 1). Currently, offshore fishing in Samoa is almost exclusively by longlining. Samoa’s 2016 report to WCPFC (Fisheries Division, 2016) contains information about fleets and fishing practices. The Samoa-flagged vessels range from 9�m to over 20.5�m in length. Table 6 presents information on the domestic fleet. In addition, 10 foreign longliners were operating in Samoa waters in 2015: Cook Islands (1 vessel), Vanuatu (8) and Kiribati (1). Table 6: Characteristics of the Samoan longline fleet
Source: Fisheries Division (2016) Class A in the table above are alia catamaran vessels. No discussion of the fisheries sector in Samoa would be complete without information on the alia. Originally designed and built by an FAO project in Samoa in the mid-1970s, much of the recent history of fishing in the country involves these vessels. Box 1 describes the large change in the alia fleet in the past decade. Box 1: Rise and fall of the Samoan alia fishery
The 2012 Samoa Socio-Economic Fisheries Survey (Tiitii et al., 2014) included information on coastal fish catches by habitat and by gear:
The longline fishery in Samoa’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is primarily based on albacore, which has made up around 70�percent of the catch over the past decade. Yellowfin contributes about 11�percent of the catch, and bigeye and skipjack around 3�percent each. The remaining catch (around 15�percent) is a mix of non-tuna species, such as black and blue marlin and swordfish. The average 2008–2012 albacore catch of around 2�230�tonnes represents around 3.7�percent of the total albacore catch taken in the Western and Central Pacific south of 10�S. While only a small proportion of the total catch is taken in the Samoa EEZ, the catch taken relative to the size of the EEZ is high. Similarly, the relative density of fishing effort in Samoa’s EEZ is high (FFA, 2014). As to the status of the offshore resources, recent information from the WCPFC’s Scientific Committee (WCPFC, 2016) shows that for:
The catch of Samoa’s coastal fisheries is very diverse. An FAO study carried out in Samoa in the 1990s (Zann, 1992) reported that subsistence fisheries make use of 500 species. The most important resources for Samoa’s small-scale fisheries are: finfish (especially surgeonfish, grouper, mullet, carangids and rabbitfish), octopus, giant clams, beche-de-mer, Turbo spp. and crab. A study by FAO in 2006 identified the major species caught by spearfishing (Table 7). Table 7: Common species in Samoa’s spearfishing catch
A statement in Samoa’s Agriculture Sector Plan 2016–2020 (which includes fisheries) summarizes the official position on the status/potential of coastal fishery resources in Samoa: Inshore fisheries, whilst important for food security in rural areas, have restricted potential for increased production due mainly to the limited areas within the reef and vulnerability to exploitive fishing practices. With some commodities already overfished, increasing fish supplies, particularly to urban areas, is likely to rely more on landings of tuna and the further development of aquaculture. The ministerial foreword to the Samoa Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan (Fisheries Division, 2013) gave another view on the status of coastal fisheries: “Coastal fisheries have not, however, been well understood and managed, mainly because they are a multi-species and multi-gear type of fishery.” Management applied to main fisheries The tuna fishery in Samoa is managed on regional and national levels:
The Fisheries Division Annual Report for fiscal year 2014–2015 states that a review of the Tuna Management and Development Plan 2011–2015 was carried out in May 2015 with technical assistance provided by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and SPC. The review looked at what had been achieved and priorities for a new plan. The discussions during the review mostly focused on how to implement Samoa’s allocation for South Pacific albacore and how to operationalise this allocation in different sectors of the commercial fishing community. Coastal fisheries management in Samoa is largely the responsibility of the 230 coastal villages. Village-level management was enhanced considerably in the mid and late 1990s by the Community-based Fisheries Management Program (Box 2). Box 2: Community-based Fisheries Management Program
The Fisheries Management Act 2016 gives fisheries management objectives in only very general terms: “Management decisions are based on the best information available and are designed to maintain or restore stocks at levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield, or any other approved reference points, as qualified by relevant environmental, social and economic factors, and taking into account fishing patterns and the interdependence of stocks.” The Samoa Tuna Management and Development Plan 2011–2015 states: “The Plan will pursue the following objectives through the management of tuna fishing:
c) Contributing to the sustainable management of tuna resources and the associated ecosystem, including through effective participation by Samoa in regional activities. d) Continual recognition of cultural values in tuna policy and planning, particularly the importance of the contribution of tuna to food security, and protection of the interests of small-scale fishers.” For coastal management, the Samoa Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2013–2016 (Fisheries Division, 2013) indicates that the overall goal of interventions in coastal fisheries is to ensure sustainable food security and livelihoods through sustainable utilisation, development and management of coastal fisheries in Samoa. The objectives of the plan provide some degree of insight into coastal fisheries management objectives:
Because much of the coastal fisheries management in Samoa occurs at the village level, many villages have their own management schemes and objectives. Because there are about 230 coastal villages in Samoa, the number of management schemes and associated objectives is quite large. A typical objective for village-level management in Samoa is given in King et al. (2001): "To protect the marine environment in order to increase the number of fish and shellfish available for present and future generations." Management measures and institutional arrangements Management measures for the offshore tuna fishery are given in section 4.2.5 above. Briefly, the measures include license caps, license fees, an exclusion zone for large vessels, limits on shark catches, and mandatory landing of shark carcasses with fins. At the national level, management measures for coastal fisheries include requirements for fishing licenses, minimum size limits for fish, marine protected areas (MPAs), re-stocking efforts, and development of alternative livelihoods to reduce coastal fishing effort. A large number of management measures are formulated and applied at the village level. A report on the status of village fishery management (King and Fa’asili, 1998) gives the management tools in use at the village level (Table 8). Figures in the right-hand column indicate the percentage of all villages using the particular measure. Those measures are largely still in use at present. Table 8: Village-level management measures
The institutional arrangements for fisheries management are discussed in section 8 below. Fishing communities The concept of “fishing communities” is not very relevant to Samoa. Those individuals that are involved in the offshore fisheries do not live in separate communities, but rather are widely dispersed around where the vessels are based, mainly the Apia urban area. Nearly all households in coastal villages are involved in coastal fishing activities – mainly for subsistence but often selling the surplus. Inland sub-sector Compared to the marine fisheries of Samoa, the production from inland fisheries is quite small. According to officials of the Fisheries Division, the total annual inland harvest is unknown but likely to be about 10�tonnes per year. The main freshwater fishery species are tilapia (there are occasionally roadside sales near lakes), eels and freshwater shrimps. The Asian Development Bank (ADB, 2008) reports that 2�percent of all households in Samoa do at least some fishing on inland rivers and lakes. Where inland fishing is managed, it is done so on a village level. It is likely that the management is oriented to protecting the flow of freshwater foods to the village. Aquaculture sub-sector The history of the development of aquaculture in Samoa is given in Box 3. Box 3: Aquaculture development in Samoa
From Box 3, it can be seen that aquaculture activities have been attempted in Samoa to:
A review of aquaculture in Samoa in 2001 (Rimmer et al., 2001) stated that aquaculture in Samoa could be broadly divided into two types:
In 2015, an SPC study (Gillett, 2016) estimated aquaculture production across the Pacific Islands, including Samoa. From discussions with Fisheries Division staff and a review of documentation, the study concluded that, in 2014, about 12�tonnes of tilapia were produced. As the farm-gate price was about WST�5.00–6.00 (USD�2.09–2.51) per kg, the annual production was worth about WST�66�000 (USD�27�615). The study also noted that, although in Samoa there is some culture of tridacna, seagrapes, mudcrabs and prawns, the amounts produced and sold in 2014 were very small. The Samoa Aquaculture Management and Development Plan (SPC, 2012) identifies a vision and goal for aquaculture in Samoa. The vision is that “long-term benefits of socio-economic growth for Samoa accrue as a result of development of the aquaculture sector in a sustainable and responsible way, as an income-generating activity alternative to capture fisheries”. The plan also states: “The overall goal is to ensure food and nutritional security and improve rural and urban livelihoods through sustainable and responsible development and management of the aquaculture sector in Samoa.” The Samoa Aquaculture Management and Development Plan has eight objectives that support the development and management of aquaculture in the country:
Although subsistence fishing may have a large social component and be enjoyed by the participants, there is little recreational fishing in the village as a leisure activity. In Apia, there is some sport fishing (mainly offshore trolling) and occasionally there are sport-fishing competitions. Some hotels offer fishing as an activity for guests. Post-harvest sector Fish utilization Samoa’s latest Annual Report to the WCPFC (Fisheries Division, 2016) states that over half of total tuna exports go to the canneries in American Samoa as frozen tuna, while the rest is exported fresh chilled, mostly to Japan and the United States. The catch from offshore fisheries that is not exported is sold locally, mostly in the Apia fish market. McCoy et al. (2015) describe tuna-processing facilities in Samoa:
Fish from coastal fisheries is largely for domestic consumption, but some is exported by Samoans travelling overseas. There is typically little processing involved prior to sale, although for some types of seafood, the preparation can be elaborate (Box 4). Box 4: Preparation of sea cucumbers in Samoa
The main fish market in Samoa is the Apia Fish Market (described in the section above). Fish is also sold at the Fugalei Agriculture Market on the Apia–Faleolo roadside, and at the Salelologa Market. There are also informal roadside sales. According to the Fisheries Division Annual Report for FY 2014–2015, the Apia Fish Market handled 43.79�percent of seafood sales in Samoa, followed by roadside sales (27.28�percent), Salelologa Market (16.32�percent) and Fugalei Agriculture Market (12.61�percent). The catch from subsistence fisheries is consumed in the coastal villages near where it is caught, but some is shipped to friends and family in Apia. The giving of fish for cultural purposes (faasoso) is important in Samoa. Most of this occurs domestically, but a significant amount of faasoso fish is exported. The small amount of inland and aquaculture production is mainly for subsistence purposes, but some roadside sales of tilapia occur. Socio-economic contribution of the fishery sector A recent study by SPC (Gillett, 2016) attempted to quantify the fishery-related benefits received by Samoa and other Pacific Island countries. The study gave the available information on the contribution of fishing to GDP, exports, government revenue, employment, and nutrition. Unless otherwise noted, the information in this section is from that study. Role of fisheries in the national economy The Samoa Bureau of Statistics makes the official estimates of GDP. Information on the fishing sector contribution is given in Table 9. Table 9: Official estimate of the fishing contribution to Samoa’s GDP
The contribution of fishing to Samoa’s 2014 GDP was re-estimated in 2015 by an SPC project using a standard methodology developed for the fishing sectors of Pacific Island countries. That study indicated that the fishing contribution was 3.4�percent of Samoa’s GDP (i.e. 0.4�percent greater than the official estimate). It is likely that the official estimate is smaller than that of the recalculated estimate because it makes use of fisheries production information from a household income and expenditure survey, and not from the fisheries surveys. Many Pacific Island countries receive substantial government revenue from foreign fishing activities in their zones. In 2014, the only authorized foreign fishing in the Samoa zone was by the purse-seine vessels covered by the US tuna treaty. Although there was no fishing by that fleet in Samoa waters in 2014, the country received a payment. According to FFA staff, for the 26th licensing period of the treaty (the one-year period ending June 14, 2014), Samoa received USD�555�815 (WST�1�328�395) as its share of the treaty money that is divided equally amongst all parties. The total revenue of the Samoan government for the fiscal year ending 30 June 2014 was WST�473.6�million. Therefore, WST�1�328�395 in access fees is equivalent to 0.3�percent of the total revenue of the Samoan government for that year. Trade The quarterly merchandise trade report for March 2015 (SBS, 2015) gives Samoa’s fish exports and total exports. In 2014 WST�5�562�000 (USD�2�327�197) of fish was exported. This represented 4.7�percent of all the exports of the country for the year. The report states that in 2013, WST�10�740�000 (USD�4�609�000) worth of fish was exported. FAO export data for 2013 reports that USD�5�543�000 worth of fish was exported. The reason for the difference between the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) and FAO export data is unclear, but it is likely due to the difference between values declared by exporters (SBS data) and values determined by importing countries (FAO data). For 2014, as reported in Part 1 of this profile, the value for fisheries exports was USD 2 520 000. According to Fisheries Division staff, starting in 1997 export bans on several types of fishery products (coral, aquarium fish and beche-de-mer) have resulted in almost all commercial fishery exports in recent years being tuna products. The FAO data in Part 1 indicate that in 2014, USD�6 668�000 worth of fishery products were imported. Food security Table 10 below summarizes historical estimates of fish consumption in Samoa. It can be seen that there is some inconsistency, or at least lack of clarity, in what is being measured (fresh fish only, fresh plus canned) and how it is measured (fish actually consumed versus whole fish equivalent). Table 10: Estimates of per capita fisheries consumption in Samoa (various years)
Employment A socio-economic fisheries survey was carried out in June and July 2012 (Tiitii et al., 2014). Overall, the survey found that fishing is third to agriculture and paid salary in terms of income source. Nonetheless, fishing remains an extremely important source of household income in the villages under study. On average, 14�percent of all households ranked fishing as their first source of household income. The average for households in coastal communities was higher at 18�percent. The report of the survey contained a considerable amount of information on the gender aspects of fishing (Box 5). Box 5: Gender aspects of coastal fishing in Samoa
An agricultural census (which included fisheries) was conducted in Samoa in 2009 as a joint exercise by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (SBS, 2012). The 2009 census aimed to measure household agricultural activity. The results were able to be compared with those of a previous agriculture census in 1999. Some of the fisheries-relevant results were as follows:
Rural development Rural development is a major thrust of the government’s efforts in the fisheries sector. A major component of the work programme of Fisheries Division is to enhance the capabilities of villages to manage their coastal fisheries resources, as an integrated part of village development. In addition, the Fisheries Division has major involvement in rural extension activities, and in supporting rural port facilities at the village level. Unlike many other countries, all villages in Samoa are within an easy commute of the largest urban area – so halting the rural-urban drift is not a major government policy objective. Rather, the major issue in population movement is migration to overseas countries, especially New Zealand. Trends, issues and development Constraints and opportunities Some of the major constraints for the fisheries sector in Samoa are:
Opportunities in the fisheries sector include:
Box 6: Conditions in Apia Harbour
In a general sense, the major government policies in fisheries are to stabilize the harvests in the offshore commercial fishery, and to devolve responsibility for management of inshore fisheries to villages.At a more detailed level, the policies and development strategies are best articulated in the latest Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan and Tuna Management and Development Plan. The Samoa Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2013–2016 (Fisheries Division, 2013) indicates that the overall goal is to ensure sustainable food security and livelihoods through sustainable utilisation, development and management of coastal fisheries in Samoa. The strategies of the plan are:
The Samoa Tuna Management and Development Plan 2011–2015 contains the following policy statements: (a) Continuing to strengthen the exercise of sovereign rights of Samoans over tuna; (b) Increasing the economic gains received by Samoa through exercising its rights over tuna and through optimal management of the fishery; (c) Contributing to the sustainable management of tuna resources and the associated ecosystem, including through effective participation by Samoa in regional activities; and (d) Continual recognition of cultural values in tuna policy and planning, particularly the importance of the contribution of tuna to food security, and protection of the interests of small-scale fishers. The development strategies in the plan are to:
The private sector’s policies are not formalized. Judging from the attitudes and recent action of the companies engaged in offshore fishing, the main policy is not one of expansion but rather survival during periods of poor albacore fishing.Research, education and trainingResearch A large amount of fisheries research has been undertaken in Samoa over the years. Much of the older work is listed in the “Western Samoa fisheries bibliography” (Gillett and Sua, 1987). The research carried out on the main fishery resources in Samoa is summarized in the “Western Samoa fisheries resources profiles” (Bell and Mulipola, 1995). Current fisheries research, as listed in the latest available annual report of the Fisheries Division (Fisheries Division, 2014), includes:
There is also an active tuna research programme that collects catch and effort data from the locally based longliners. This information is analyzed by the Fisheries Division and by SPC’s Oceanic Fisheries Programme in New Caledonia.Education and training Education related to fisheries in Samoa is provided by a variety of institutions:
The largest fisheries-related programme in Samoa in recent years has been the Australian-funded Samoa Fisheries Project. The project had major involvement in the promotion of management of coastal resources by adjacent communities and of conventional management of offshore fishing. A re-orientation of the Fisheries Division to a stronger focus on fisheries stakeholders was a major achievement. The project concluded in 2003, but the positive impact of that work is still very evident today. That programme is arguably the most effective national capacity development initiative ever carried out in the fisheries sector of any Pacific Island country. Bilateral programmes of technical cooperation, collaboration and assistance have been provided by the governments of Australia, China and Japan, and by the European Union. Multilateral donors include UNDP and FAO. Samoa also enjoys technical assistance or the channelling of multilateral donor assistance from various regional agencies, including FFA and SPC. Institutional framework Government responsibility for fisheries and marine resource matters is vested in the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It is headquartered in Apia, on the waterfront near the Apia Fish Market. The Fisheries Division is one of seven divisions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Division, which is headed by an Assistant Chief Executive Officer, has several components including Coastal Fisheries, Offshore Fisheries, Enforcement, Administration, Aquaculture and Extension. According to the Ministry’s website (www.maf.gov.ws), the Fisheries Division undertakes research, analysis, monitoring and reporting to facilitate the development of fishery resources in Samoa, and promotes the involvement of communities, fishers, private investors and relevant stakeholders in the adoption of sustainable fisheries practices and sustainable development and management of fisheries. Under the Fisheries Management Act 2016, the functions of the Fisheries Division are:
(h) to carry out any other function determined by the Chief Executive Officer and to do any other thing to give effect to the objects or for the purposes of the Act. The Commercial Fisheries Management Advisory Committee (CF-MAC) is the official body that represents the offshore fishing industry. The Committee comprises representatives from the private sector and relevant government departments. It includes two elected representatives from the Upolu Fishermen's Association, Savaii Fishermen's Association, Fish Exporters Association and Boat Builders Association, and one appointed representative from the Treasury Department, Fisheries Division, Ministry of Transport, Port Authority and the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry. By their nature, stakeholders in the village fisheries are less formally organized. Individual village councils often consult with representatives of the Fisheries Division. Many villages have fishery management committees made up of local stakeholders in fisheries. Important internet links related to fisheries in Samoa include:
The major regional institutions involved with fisheries are the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), located in Honiara and the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea. Other players are the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Office in Majuro, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Apia, and the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva. The characteristics of those institutions are given in Table 11.
The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean entered into force in June 2004, and established the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Samoa is a member of the commission, along with 26 other countries. The WCPFC has its headquarters in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, and has held 13 annual meetings to date. Legal framework The main legislative instrument relating to fisheries in Samoa is the Fisheries Management Act 2016, more formally known as “An act to regulate and control the conservation, management or development of fisheries and the licensing of Samoan fishing vessels and foreign fishing vessels and for related purposes”. It is a 75-page document, containing nine parts:
Notable features of the Act include the following:
A village Fono may make village fishery bylaws, consistent with the Act, for the purpose of conserving, protecting, managing, developing and sustaining harvest of fish in the village fisheries management area. More information at: Regional and international legal frameworkAnnexes References ADB. 2008. Samoa social and economic report 2008: Continuing growth and stability, TA6245-REG: Samoa PIER. Asian Development Bank, Manila. Bell J., Kronen, M., Vunisea, A., Nash, W., Keeble, G., Demmke, A., Pontifex, S. & Andr�fou�t, S. 2009. Planning the use of fish for food security in the Pacific. Marine Policy 33: 64–76. Bell, L. & Mulipola, A. 1995. Western Samoa fisheries resources profiles. FFA Report No. 95/18. Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands.�. Campling, L. 2013. FFA Fisheries trade news. Volume 6: Issue 2, March–April 2013. Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands.�. Chapman, L. 2004. Nearshore domestic fisheries development in Pacific Island countries and territories. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia. FFA. 2014. An economic analysis of the costs and benefits to the Samoan industry of licensing additional longline fishing vessels. Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands.�. FFA. 2015. The value and volumes of tuna catches in the WCPO. [spreadsheet], Forum Fisheries Agency. Honiara, Solomon Islands. Fisheries Division. 2011. The Samoa Tuna Management and Development Plan 2011–2015. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Apia, Samoa.�. Fisheries Division. 2013. Samoa Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Plan 2013–2016. Compiled by Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.�. Fisheries Division. 2014. Fisheries Division Annual Report 2013–2014. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Apia, Samoa. Fisheries Division. 2016. Samoa Annual Report to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Apia, Samoa.�. Gillett, R. 2008. Sea safety in the Pacific Islands: The relationship between tuna fishery management and sea safety. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. Gillett, R. 2014. Pacific perspectives on fisheries and sustainable development. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. 50 pp. Gillett, R. 2016. Fisheries in the economies of Pacific Island countries and territories. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Forum Fisheries Agency, and Australian Aid. (ISBN 978-982-00-1009-3) (also available at: http://www.spc.int/fame/en/component/content/article/237-benefish-study-2016). Gillett R. & Lightfoot, C. 2001. The contribution of fisheries to the economies of Pacific Island countries. Pacific Studies Series., Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Forum Fisheries Agency, Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Manila.�. Gillett, R. & Moy, W. 2006. Spearfishing in the Pacific Islands: Current status and management issues. FAO Fishcode Review No. 19 (ISSN: 1728-4392.) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 72 pp. Gillett, R. & Sua, D. 1987. Western Samoa Fisheries Bibliography. Document 87/6, FAO/UNDP Regional Fishery Support Programme. Suva, Fiji. Hamilton, A. 2007. The Samoa alia fishery. Development of tuna fisheries in the Pacific ACP countries (DEVFISH) Project, Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands.�. King, M. & Fa’asili, U. 1998. Community-based management of subsistence fisheries in Samoa. Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Meteorology. Apia, Samoa. King, M., Passfield, K. & Ropeti, E. 2001. Village Fisheries Management Plan: Samoa’s community-based management strategy. Samoa Fisheries Project, Fisheries Division, Apia, Samoa. Lambeth, L. 2001. An overview of the involvement of women in fisheries activities in Oceania. Global Symposium on Women in Fisheries. Sixth Asian Fisheries Forum, 29 November 2001. Kaohsiung, Taiwan. McCoy, M., Itano, D. & Pollard, S. 2015. A forward-looking study of development opportunities in FFA member countries in the tuna industry. Gillett, Preston and Associates, for the Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Mulipola, A., Taua, A., Tuaopepe, O. & Valencia, S. 2007. Samoa fisheries socio-economic report 2006–2007. Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Apia, Samoa. Passfield, K. 2001. Profile of village fisheries in Samoa. Samoa Fisheries Project. AusAID, Australia. 33 pp. Preston, G. 2000. Managing the ocean. Report Prepared for the World Bank. Washington, D.C. Rimmer, M., Bell, L., Lober, M. & Trevor, A. 2001. Evaluation of the potential for aquaculture in Samoa. Samoa Fisheries Project, Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries and Meteorology., Apia, Samoa. SBS. 2012. The 2012 Samoa labour force survey. Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Apia, Samoa. SBS. 2015. Merchandise trade, March 2015 Quarter. Samoa Bureau of Statistics, Apia, Samoa. SNA. 2009. System of National Accounts 2008. Commission of the European Union, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Statistics Division and the World Bank. SPC. 2012. Samoa Aquaculture Management and Development Plan 2013–2018. Aquaculture Section, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia. Tiitii U., Sharp, M. & Ah-Leong, J. 2014. Samoa socioeconomic fisheries survey report: 2012–2013. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia. Vunisea, A., Friedman, K., Awira, R., Kronen, M., Pinca, S., Chapman, L., Magron, F., Sauni, S., Pakoa, K. & Lasi, F. 2008. Samoa profiles and results from survey work at Salelavalu, Vailoa and Vaisala. Reef Fisheries Observatory, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia.�. WCPFC. 2016. Report of the 12th Regular Session of the Scientific Committee. Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Pohnpei.�. Zann, L. 1992. The inshore resources of Upolu, Western Samoa. Field Report No. 2, FAO/UNDP Project SAM/89/002. Apia, Western Samoa. ⇧Additional informationFAO Thematic data bases PublicationsMeetings & News archive⇧� | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fisheries and Aquaculture Division
| Fisheries and Aquaculture Division |
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