Samoa

WCPFC Area Catch Value Estimates

Introduction

The report aims to provide estimates of the value of catches of the four main commercial species caught in the Western and Central Paciffic Fisheireies Commission (WCPFC) Convention Area, that is, albacore (Thunnus alalunga), bigeye (Thunnus obesus), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin (Thunnus albacares). The report also provides catch data provided by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and prices obtained from a range of sources (provided below) on which the estimated values are based. 

Surveillance Operation TUI MOANA shows continuing determination by FFA members to deter illegal fishing

FFA REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, MONDAY 8 JUNE 2010: Operation Tui Moana, a surveillance operation involving Cook Islands, Samoa and New Zealand, coordinated by the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre, concluded on Monday demonstrating determination by FFA members to deter illegal fishing by conducting regional MCS operations.

Over  10 days, the Cook Island Pacific patrol boat with two NZ fisheries officers, supported by a P3K Orion surveillance aircraft provided by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF),  conducted surveillance and boarding operations in the EEZ's of Samoa, Cook Islands and the surrounding high seas areas and the pocket adjacent to Cook Islands EEZ. 

Pacific Patrol boat President Te Kukupa from Cook Islands, complemented the surveillance by a RNZAF P3C Orion surveillance aircraft provided by NZ to conduct patrols targeting Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing vessels. 

Officers learn about monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, MONDAY 29 JUNE 2009: Fisheries and compliance officers from Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu are in Honiara this week to learn more about monitoring, control and surveillance of illegal fishing.

The Week 5 FFA Component of the National Fisheries Officers’ Surveillance Course opened today in Honiara at the FFA Conference Centre. This is the final week in the 5-week course, the rest of the course being conducted by AMC Search Ltd in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

The Course is an annual event funded by the Australian Department of Defence and facilitated by staff of the Australian Maritime College and the FFA. The course is aimed at developing expertise and capacity of national officers responsible for monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing in the region.

FFA assists countries to board and prosecute fishing vessels

NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA, MONDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2008: The FFA Director General Su’a N.F. Tanielu opened the Prosecution and Dockside Boarding Workshop in Tonga today. This workshop will assist local officers to board and inspect fishing vessels for offences.


In Tonga this week, fisheries officers, police and maritime navy at the workshop will learn more about International law, National laws, Regional and Sub-regional Fisheries Agreements, Fishing Vessel Boarding & Evidence Collections and Court Procedures.

Niue Treaty parties meet in Apia, Samoa

APIA, SAMOA, WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2008: At the second meeting of Parties to the Niue Treaty on Cooperation in Fisheries Surveillance and Law Enforcement in the South Pacific Region, held yesterday, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) members agreed to cooperate further to combat illegal fishing.

The Niue Treaty is an agreement on cooperation between FFA members about monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing - it includes provisions on exchange of information (about where the position and speed of vessels at sea, which vessels are without licences) plus procedures for cooperation in monitoring, prosecuting and penalising illegal fishing vessels. The efforts by the Niue Treaty Parties to work together and with regional organisations were supported by the Pacific Forum Leaders in their 2007 Vava'u Declaration on Pacific Fisheries Resources and in the 2008 Niue Declaration.

Solomon Islands hosts region’s biggest maritime surveillance operation this week

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, 12 SEPTEMBER 2008: Operation Kurukuru 2008, a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to detect activities such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, smuggling and people trafficking, was hosted by the Solomon Islands this week.

Samoa first FFA/SPC member to modernize fisheries legislation, with assistance of FFA and SPC

APIA, WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2008: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Secretariat of the South Pacific Community (SPC) coordinated legal consultations in Apia last week to review Samoa’s fisheries legislation. Samoa is the first of FFA/SPC countries to undertake a consultative process to modernize their fisheries legislation with the assistance of FFA and SPC, working together for the first time to set a benchmark for fisheries law.

On Thursday and Friday last week, staff and management of the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries gave their input into draft fisheries legislation, prepared by FFA and SPC. FFA and SPC drafted the new legislation following some initial consultations with government and a further consultation with stakeholders including the Department of the Attorney General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, industry and non-government organisations last year.

Fisheries Trade Guidebook

This Guidebook, Pacific Islands Countries, the Global Tuna Industry and the International Trade Regime, outlines the major trade-related elements of the tuna fishing industry in the Western Central Pacific Ocean. In particular, it is meant to be a reference guide to assist government officials (particularly fisheries, trade and foreign affairs officials) and tuna industry operators to better understand the rules and requirements of international and regional trade agreements, and how they impact the fisheries sector. This information is supplemented with insights into the trends and structure of the global tuna industry. Drawing from the conclusions of the analysis within, this Guidebook provides a range of policy options available to Pacific Island governments.