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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Samoas Community-based Fisheries Management Programme

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Government
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    Description
    Description
    The objective of the voluntary commitments is to ensure the long term sustainability of coastal fisheries resources for food security and livelihoods of coastal village communities.

    The implementation of the voluntary commitments is through a community based approach for fisheries and resources management where village communities work in partnership with the government in managing their coastal fisheries resources. The main goal is to empower local communities to take charge of managing their fisheries and marine resources. The approach involves consultation with village communities on issues and threats that affects their fisheries resources. The outcomes from these consultations generally results in villages undertakings that forms the basis of a village fishery management plan. This amongst other things includes the recognition of a village fisheries management area, identification or marking of a no take zone within the fishery management area and the development and approval of fisheries by laws to give recognition to village fisheries committees to carry out surveillance and enforcement of their fisheries management areas.

    This approach allows a coastal village after consultation with the government to sustainably manage their coastal fisheries resources. The government through its assisting role carried out six monthly reviews for participating communities to assess its progress with the implementation of village undertakings and to identify any new threats and risks. The result of these reviews provide the basis for the advice and recommendations from the government to further strengthen the implementation of the village fisheries management plans under the community based fisheries management programme.
    Partners
    Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Government)
    Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Government)
    Pacific Community (Other Intergovernmental Organisation)
    Coastal village communities

    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.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.b Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
    Coastal villages with fisheries management plans (on going project)
    Coastal villages with no take zones (on gonig project)
    Coastal villages with approved fisheries by laws (on going project)
    Six monthly review of village fisheries management programme (on going project)
    In-kind contribution
    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
    The Miniistry fo Agricutlure to monitor and assist with project
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 July 1995 (start date)
    01 January 1970 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ministry of Agrciulture
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Apia, SAMOA
    Other beneficiaries
    Villages and coastal communities enjoy sustainable coastal fisheries resources for their food security and livelihoods from these voluntary commitments. The members of the Pacific community will also be benefiting from approaches taken and lessons learnt
    Ocean Basins
    South Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution, Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    Samoa
    Samoa
    Contact Information

    Magele Etuati Ropeti, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agricutlure