Samoa Ocean Strategy 2020–2030.

The Samoa Ocean Strategy is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of this Strategy is 10 years between 2020 and 2030. The purpose of this Strategy is to ensure sustainable development, management and conservation of Samoa’s ocean and all living and non-living resources within.
Food security will be ensured for effective and sustainable management of resources of all the marine ecosystems. Monitoring and enforcement will be strengthened to maintain balance between exploitation and conservation of habitats and fish stocks for food security. Measures will be taken to support fish stocks and to reduce land-based pollution affecting coastal food sources. Access to coastal seafood will be improved to meet per capita consumption of fish for good nutrition.
A National Ocean Steering Committee will be established for effective ocean management with a multi-sectoral approach. An integrated framework will be developed for the management of Samoa’s sovereign waters and all living, non-living marine resources and coastal ecosystem services will be protected through key tools and resources such as global and regional initiatives, science-based knowledge, and traditional knowledge. Moreover, coral reefs, mangroves and species of high value and low abundance will be included in coastal ecosystem services protection policy and their monitoring and enforcement will be strengthened. Samoa’s coastal marine areas and offshore areas will be mapped. Biosecurity controls will be strengthened to prevent the introduction of the invasive alien species. Fish habitats and stocks will be effectively managed to meet the future expected demands for fish in Samoa. Community awareness will be raised on relevant topics in compliance with the natural resource management regulations. An official network of coastal and community managed areas, including fish reserves and marine protected areas, will be established. Sustainable management of migratory species will be supported through monitoring and licensing systems. In addition, migratory species will be protected against individual or vessel by-catch, harvesting or vessel strikes. Ecologically significant deep-sea areas within the Samoan Exclusive Economic Zone will be protected and sustainably managed in order to maintain ecological processes and functions. Sustainable oceans financing mechanisms will be established to support management and development of Samoa’s ocean.
The resilience of coastal communities to the impacts of climate change will be increased by maximizing the climate adaptation and mitigation benefits provided by marine and coastal ecosystems. Disaster risk reduction and ecosystem based approaches will be adopted by the coastal management and community protection initiatives for increased resilience of marine species and habitats.