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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Effective implementation of Monitoring, Control, Surveillance and Enforcement programmes for Samoas fishery waters

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Government
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#OceanAction41436
    Description
    Description
    The objective of this voluntary commitment is to support fisheries management objectives and to deter, prevent and eliminate illegal unreported and unregulated fishing activities for highly migratory fishing stocks in Samoas exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and in the western and central Pacific Ocean.

    The implementation of this voluntary commitment relies on Samoas national monitoring control and surveillance (MCS)regime as well as with cooperative fisheries surveillance and enforcement arrangements with members of the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). Critical to this voluntary commitment is the implementation of monitoring control and surveillance tools such as the FFA vessel register and harmonized conditions that lay out the terms and conditions of access of foreign fishing vessels into FFA members exclusive economic zones. The implementation of other equally important MCS tools such as the vessel monitoring system (VMS) fisheries observers, electronic reporting and boarding and inspections provides means of ensuring the terms and conditions of access to FFA members EEZ are adhere to by foreign fishing vessels.

    Members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency meet on an annual basis to discuss issues relating to the implementation of MCS tools in each members MCS regime and to formulate strategies to strengthen these tools and how best it could be utilized to address emerging threats and risks. The terms and conditions for accessing Samoas EEZ are reviewed on a timely basis to ensure recent developments in the management of highly migratory fish stocks are captured.
    Partners
    Ministry of Police: Police Maritime Unit (Government)
    Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (Other Intergovernmental Organisation)
    Pacific Communities (SPC)
    USA Coastguard
    Australian Defense Forces
    New Zealand Defense Forces

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
    14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
    14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
    14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
    100% VMS coverage of foreign fishing vessels fishing /operating in Samoas EEZ.
    Boarding and Inspection of fishing vessels of interests at port.
    Annual licensing of fishing vessels fishing in Samoas EEZ
    Multilateral fisheries surveillance and enforcements operations.
    Other, please specify
    The bulk of the resources required for the implementation of monitoring control and surveillance tools are budgeted under the Samoan Government local budget.
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Technical assistance required from time to time for the implementation of Samoas MCS tools is provided by the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency.
    Other, please specify
    The Pacific Island Forum Fishery Agency partly assist in financing of some of the costs associated with the implementation of some national MCS tools such as internet communication costs and vessel monitoring system. Australia Defence Force finance the m
    Title Progress Status Submitted
    Partnership Progress 2018-10-29 On track
    False
    Action Network
    Small Island Developing States
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    Timeline
    01 January 2010 (start date)
    01 December 2030 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Apia, SAMOA
    Other beneficiaries
    Other beneficiaries includes distant water fishing nations (DWFN) whose vessels are operating in the western and central pacific ocean, domestic fleets of small island developing states and territories in the pacific and consumers of highly migratory fish
    Ocean Basins
    North Pacific, South Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution, Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy, Implementation of international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Magele Etuati Ropeti, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Fisheries Division, MAF