Fisheries Sector: Samoa
Priority adaptations to climate change for fisheries
and aquaculture in Samoa: reducing risks and
capitalising on opportunities
Apia,4th & 5th April 2013
Prepared: Joyce Samuelu Ah Leong – Fisheries Division, MAF
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Presentation Outline
• Background
• Role and Status of fisheries in Samoa
• Fisheries Management and Development
Frameworks
• Fisheries and Climate Change
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Background
 Land area = 2,935 sqkm2
 Reef area =10,000 sqkm2 at 50 m depth
 EEZ = 120,000 sqkm2
 Annual GDP = 505.8 million USD ~ 11.4% from
agriculture and fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Role of Fisheries
Fisheries is vital in the Samoan way of life –
protein, income earning, livelihoods, cultural
and social values.
A.Subsistence fisheries
•
•
•
•
Landings at 14,000 metric tones ~34 million USD
Catch per unit effort = 2.24kg/hr
Av. Consumption per capita = 60kg/year
86% of fishing in inner reef, 23% outer reefs, 4 %
offshore.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
B. Artisanal Fisheries
• Fishing activities with intention to sell and also
consume.
• 2011/2012 landings in volume and value –
180mts, 1.7 million SAT
Group
BIVALVE
Value (SAT)
$12,261.08
Volume (mt)
8.29
$830,224.70
% by Wts
% by Value
$/kg
6.33
0.69
$1.48
82.16
62.72
46.84
$10.11
$698,931.65
$138,772.57
19
10.82
14.5
39.44
$36.79
8.26
7.83
$12.83
ECHINODERMS
$10,591.64
5.85
4.47
0.6
$1.81
CRUSTACEAN
$70,450.80
2.87
2.19
3.98
$24.55
MOLLUSCS
$10,507.07
1.95
1.49
0.59
$5.39
GASTROPODS/BIVALVES
BIVALVE
$52.50
$420.00
0.05
0.04
0
$1.11
-
-
0.02
GASTROPODS
$108.46
-
-
0.01
100
100
FINFISH
PROCESSED
OTHER
$1,772,320.46
130.98
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
C. Commercial Fisheries
– Long line tuna fishery, deepwater fishery
– Tuna as main export, 70% albacore, 16%
yellowfin and 4% big eye.
– Volume of 2,046 metric tones ~9 million
SAT
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Fisheries Legislative
Framework
1. Fisheries Act 1988 – An Act for the
conservation, management and development of
the Samoa Fisheries.
2. Fisheries Amendments 2002..
3. Fisheries Management Bill 2013 – currently in
translation.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Fisheries Management & Development
Policies
1. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Sector Plan
2011 – 2015
– To revitalize the agriculture sector to increase its
relative contribution to the national GDP by 10% in
2015.
2. Tuna Management and Development Plan 2011 –
2015
– Management of tuna resources and to sustain and
maximize the economic benefits and participants of
Samoans in the fishery.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
3. Aquaculture Management and
Development Plan 2013 – 2016
–
Long term benefits of socio-economic growth for
Samoa as a result of develop of the aquaculture
sector in a sustainable and responsible way, as
an income generating activity alternative to
capture.
4. Coastal Fisheries Management and
Development Plans 2013 – 2016 (in
dvlpmt)
–
The overall goal is to ensure sustainable food
security and prosper livelihoods through
sustainable utilization, development and
management of coastal fisheries in Samoa.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Fisheries Management
Programs
1. Community-Base Fisheries Management
Program (CBFMP)
–
–
Bottom up Approach, Initiated in 1995, Village
Management Plans (VMPs), Village By Laws & Fish
reserves.
94 villages with VMPs and 54 with fish reserves
2. Licensing of Commercial Fisheries efforts and
processes.
3. Enforcement of Regulations
4. Resource Independent and Dependent
assessments and surveys.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Challenges in Relation to
Climate Change
1. Outdated Legislation
2. Plans lacks climate change
recognitions.
3. Climate change as a cross cutting
issue involves other players.
4. Climate change impacts pose serious
threats on fisheries resources.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA
Faafetai lava!
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA