The use of nearshore marine life as food resource by American Samoans

Hill, Harry

Reef zonation was described and related to subsistence fishing activity. Certain generalizations were forthcoming. 1)Reef gleaners harvest the flat to moderately irregular areas characterized as the Porolithon ridge of the reef margin, the coralline algal flats of the outer reef and the platforms of Porites, Pavona and Psammocora on the mid and inner reef. 2) Divers spearfish the moderately to highly irregular reef slope, margin and Acropora thickets. 3)Line fishermen use several subsurface techniques in fishing the reef slope and "awas" (ravines) from adjacent shallow areas. 4) Throw net fishermen cast their nets over flat areas of the inner reef and reef margin. 5) Gill nets and weirs are set in reef passes on the outer reef and reef margin. Together these five groups of primary subsistence fishing techniques harvest the major zones existing on the fringing reef. The relative frequency of occurrence of techniques used in the nearshore fishery was assessed. Unfortunately the subsistence fishery has overexploited the fringing reefs in American Samoa. In the face of the territory's population explosion and urban development fishing pressure has exceeded the reef's ability to produce, and the reefs are doubtlessly yielding catches below their potential. The nearshore fishery is sorely in need of an enlightened and effective program of marine resource management. The catch for the nearshore fishery is equal to approximately 65 metric tons per year. While the value of the increased production accompanying effective management of the fishery may not warrant the expenditure of large sums in developing such management, it is proposed that the revitalization of traditional forms of reef conservation and preservation may accomplish the needed formal fisheries management into the "kapu" or "sa" (prohibition) system and the reinstatement of the village "fonos" as overseers of the reef are recommended.