Community-based management of subsistence fisheries in Samoa
King M, Faasili U, Mulipola A. 2001. Community-based management of subsistence fisheries in Samoa. Pages 49-59. In Author unknown: Protecting our environment island style: success stories, continuing challenges, realistic solutions. Pago Pago, American Samoa. June 20-23, 2000. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Nineteenth Annual Pacific Islands Conference
Many subsistence fishers in tropical regions live in discrete communities, which have a high level of marine awareness and some degree of control of adjacent waters. These factors provide an ideal basis on which to motivate communities to manage their own marine resources. A fisheries extension programme in Samoa encouraged each village community to define its key problems, discuss causes, propose solutions and take appropriate actions. Various village groups, including women's and untitled men's groups, provided information which was recorded (as problem/solution trees) on portable white boards. The extension process culminated in a community-owned Fisheries Management Plan, which listed the resource management and conservations undertakings of the community. Undertakings ranged from enforcing laws banning destructive fishing methods to protecting critical marine habits. Of the first three years, the extension process commenced in 65 villages, of which 64 Village Fisheries Management Plans so far. A large number (54) of these villages chose to establish community-owned Marine Protected Areas.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- King, Michael; Faasili, Ueta; Mulipola, Atonio
- Units
- NPSA , PACN
- Keywords
- Fisheries, Management, Marine Protected Area (MPA), Samoa