Management of access to fisheries in American Samoa

Meyer Resources,  Inc.

The Reef Fisheries; The most traditionally and intensively exploited fisheries of American Samoa are those of the reefs. Reefs surrounding Tutuila and the Manu'a Islands are relatively narrow, perhaps ranging from 50 to 200 meters from shore (Hill, 1979). In the reef area one finds a diversity of fishing technology includeing gleaning, diving, pole fishing, throw net, gillnetting, trap and paopao based activity. Parrot fishes, surgeon fishes, soldier and squirrel fishes, goat fishes, sea basses, snappers, mullet, mackerel, octopus, clams, snails, limpets, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, lobsters, shrimps and crabs are the primary targeted seafood products along Samoa's reefs. Take is primarily for subsistence, although some 'excess' catch is occasionally channelled to local markets. In 1984, American Samoa estimated a total annual reef catch of 27,613 pounds, although this may be low (Office of Marine Resources, 1984). Hill (1977) reports catch per hour of 0.5 to 0.6 k.g., save for throw netting, which yielded 2.5 kg/hr. Hill notes these results are lower than Micronesian atolls and indicative, he believes, of significant overfishing of the reefs surrounding American Samoa. Discussion with local American Samoan officials suggest that such overfishing can be potentially attributed to very aggressive fishing techniques applied over the last several years by Tongans, and in part to gradual erosioon of traditional authority under the matai system of fishery management (to be discussed fowllowing). Outside the reefs, a commercial fishery primarily using 30' to 40' Alia multi-hulled boats has developed. It is estimated that approximately 50 vessels are presently available to the American Samoa fishery (Office of Marine Resources, 1985). Estmated catch for 1984, 1985 1986 are presented in Table I. As noted, fishery resources adjacent to American Samoa have not been completely charted at this time. Undoubtedly, further fishery concentrations 'near shore' will be discovered over time. Further, it is likely that fishery concentrations further from American Samoa, but within 200 miles of her shores, will also be discovered. Finally, fishing arrangements (eg. the tuna management exclusion) and fishing patterns may change over time. It is consequently important that any plan American Samoa develops to manage access to her fisheries retain flexibility, so it can respond to emergent fishery developments as they occur.