This commitment will establish a coordination mechanism and offers an integrated approach to ensure the conservation and the sustainable use of our oceans and marine resources. The Samoan way of life - the Christian way and the Faasamoa culture have an important role to play in the effectiveness of our MPAs. The Aleipata and Safata districts are important marine protected areas of Samoa. Adequate revenue-generating mechanisms are often a challenge for MPA sustainability and to meet the 10% target under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goal 14.
Samoa was one of the first Pacific island countries to declare its waters a sanctuary for sharks, whales, dolphins and turtles in 2003. The declaration of the Samoa National Marine Sanctuary is for their protection and sustainable use. These highly migratory charismatic species form an important part of our heritage and biodiversity however they are increasingly becoming threatened and extinct.
The drastic declines in these particular marine mammals throughout the world via uncontrolled overfishing and by-catch has led to the realization that more efforts are necessary to safeguard their population.
Scientific research, monitoring, and education programmes are created to promote public awareness and to foster a marine ethic of conservation and stewardship. In addition, a lucrative environment-friendly industry can be developed, e.g. whale and shark watching. The sanctuary is always sensitive to the need to balance protection with multiple uses.
The effectiveness of our MPAs and Samoa National Marine Sanctuary can be supported through the establishment of a National Ocean & Marine Committee (NOMC)and strong collaboration with our key development partners. The NOMC can oversee our ocean and marine development activities and can help to ensure a better understanding of the costs and benefits of national MPAs and the Marine Sanctuary.
Progress reports
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
Type of commitment
- Community or Locally Managed Marine Areas
- Integrated Coastal Management
- Marine Spatial Planning
- Other (please specify): Marine sanctuary
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
Type of commitment
- Compliance, monitoring and enforcement
- Reduction and elimination fishing practices and gear that destroy/degrade marine habitat
- Science-based fisheries management plans
- Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF)
- Reduction of fisheries by-catch and product waste/losses
- Market-based instruments (Individually Traded Quotas, Vessel Day Schemes, etc.)
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
Type of commitment
- Multiple use marine protected area
- Locally or community managed marine areas
- MPA management and/or enforcement
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
Type of commitment
- Economic benefits from sustainable tourism
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
Type of commitment
- Scientific, socioeconomic and interdisciplinary research
- Research capacity development
- Data access and sharing
- Training and professional development
- Scientific cooperation
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, 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
Type of commitment
- Activities to raise awareness of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the sustainable development of oceans and seas, in particular UNCLOS, its Implementing Agreements and other relevant ocean-related instruments and promote their effective im
- Strengthening ocean governance, for example through the development of a national ocean policy or regional ocean policy
December 2018
Endorse the SPREP Regional Action Plan for Marine Species for whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks and dugongs
June 2017
Completion of the first research into sharks and rays in Samoa
November 2018
Development of a marine species management plan
November 2019
Review of the National Marine Wildlife Protection Regulation 2009 to incorporate arising issues for the protection, conservation and management of sharks, whales, dolphins and turtles.
Staff / Technical expertise
Government technical assistance/NGOs technical support/, Private sector support
Other, please specify
Other Partners financial support
Staff / Technical expertise
SPREP/PEW will work with MNRE to provide technical support and expertise, capacity building and support in securing funds for the delivery and implementation of Samoas commitments
In-kind contribution
TheYCAN will work with the MNRE to provide their time and assistance in the implementation of the deliverables
