King, M., Passfield, K. and Ropeti, R. 2001. Management of Village Fisheries: Samoa’s Community-based Management Strategy.
Samoa currently has more than 80 fish reserves managed by the community with assistance from the Government’s Fisheries Division. This detailed document outlines the process used by communities in Samoa in the preparation of fisheries management plans and the establishment of fish reserves. It describes some of the activities to carry out with communities (e.g. problem/solution trees) and has descriptions of some of the regulations that communities can propose as fisheries management measures (e.g., limiting the number of fishers).
There is an interesting discussion on page 16 about the benefits of many small no-take reserves in comparison to a few large ones. There are also discussions of alternatives to fishing (e.g. aquaculture) and the role of all stakeholders in the community-based process. The appendices contain examples of the questionnaires used to help fill in the management plan and an example management plan from one community.
Samoan Village Fisheries Management Plans
Samoan villages have produced many Village Fisheries Management Plans in the local Samoan language. The Samoan Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has been working closely with villages for many years. These plans reflect area-based management initiatives and conservation approaches in Pacific communities. The plans will eventually appear in the Pacific Environment Information Network (PEIN) and in BIOPAMA's Reference Information System (RRIS).
Some examples of Samoan Village Fisheries Management Plans:
