Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) has
been reported to be the main driver of over-exploited and
depleting fisheries around the world. Because of its nature, it
has the potential to affect the food security of coastal
communities that heavily relies on fisheries resources for
their sustenance and their livelihoods. It also has the
potential to affect the opportunity for sustainable
economic development for small island developing states
around the world.
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing or commonly known as IUU, are generally, fishing
activities that:
i) Are carried out without proper authorizations, licenses or permits,
ii) Whose catches are not reported or are misreported
iii) Are carried out in the absence of any regulation to control that particular fishery.
In Samoa, we have faced many challenges and have developed measures to address IUU
fishing. The challenges cover a broad spectrum of fisheries ranging from commercial fisheries
that are important for our economic developments to artisanal and subsistence fisheries that
are critical for the food security and livelihoods of our coastal village communities.
Ensuring a Sustainable Fisheries is a priority for Samoa as it contributes to the achievements of
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 and particularly 14 “Life Below
Water”. As with many other countries in the world, IUU Fishing is a threat to achieving
Sustainable Fisheries for Samoa. In recognition of this threat, the Government of Samoa has
joined Regional Advisory Agencies and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations to
collectively manage highly migratory fish stocks that are important in the pacific region and
Samoa. On the domestic level, the government has been collaborating with coastal village

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communities in promoting a co-management approach for our coastal fisheries resources. This
has resulted in the inception of Samoa’s Community Based Fisheries Management Programme
(CBFMP).
The participation of Samoa to regional fisheries bodies and the collaboration with coastal
villages through its Community Based Fisheries Management Programme have assisted the
government in guiding the development of various Monitoring, Control, Surveillance and
Enforcement tools. These MCSE tools used have extended from the first centralized regions
satellite based Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), wide-ranging agreements and innovative
systems to share data and intelligence and supportive mechanisms that allow us to share our
limited surveillance assets. These are united with robust systems for data collections, including
well developed yet growing programs for the placement of fisheries observers on fishing
vessels and excellent support and coordination from regional agencies with the overall aim to
prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing from occurring in Samoa’s fishery waters
Similar to many other Small Island Developing States, having access to financial resources and
technical capacity to support our fight against IUU fishing is a challenge. I would like to
encourage our regional partners to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in
identifying areas where external assistance can be of most value in refining and strengthening
our approach so we continue to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU Fishing.
As Samoa Fisheries operates in a very dynamic environment, we are expecting new and
emerging challenges in our fight against IUU fishing. We should not be complacent in our role
as custodians of our fisheries resources and oceans for our future generations, so they can
enjoy the benefits that we are enjoying now from these resources. We would like to join our
Global Family through the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nation, to mark this
day the international Day against IUU Fishing.

Aso Fa’avaomalo e Tete’e atu ai i Faigafaiva Fa’asolitulafono.

O le fagotaina faa solitulafono o punaoa o le gataifale ua fai lea ma fa’afitauli ogaoga I le lalolagi
i le taimi nei ma ua lamatia ai le ola faalenatura o punaoa o le gataifale ma ua a’afia atu ai ma
tagata o lo’o faalagolago ai mo taumafa ma tupe maua aemaise lava i atunu’u tauatia’e o le
lalolagi.
O nei fagotaga fa’asolitulafono e aofia ai tulaga nei.
i. O le fagota e aunoa ma ni laisene fagota mo se fa’atagana
ii. Le ripotiina o I’a maua mai fagota po’o le sa’o foi ona ripoti.
iii. O le le usitaia o isi aiaiga tu’uina mai mo le fagota tatauina o ia.
O Samoa lava ia e tele ni lu’itau o lo’o faapena ona fesagai pea, ae ua mafai ona fausia ni auala
e tali atu ai I le taimi nei. O le mata’ituina o le saogalemu o fagotaga I le atunu’u o le

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fa’amuamua lea o lo’o iai nei lo tatou atunuu ma o la tatou lagolago tele foi lea I le Polokalame
ale UN i le atia’eina o fagotaga I le lalolagi o lo’o iai ma Samoa. O le fa’alauiloaina o lenei
polokalame o lo’o galulue fa’atasi ai Samoa ma Ofisa autu o Faigafaiva fa’aitulagi ma aumai ai
fautuaga aua le mataituina ma le va’aia lelei o punaoa o le gataifale. O lo’o galulue foi le
Matagaluega ma nu’u i tua e tau ala atu i lana polokalame faufautua i nu’u ma afioaga e una’i le
va’aia lelei o punaoa o le gataifale.
O le faiga pa’aga a Samoa ma Ofisa o faigafaiva faufautua fa’aitulagi ma ana polokalame ua
mafai ai ona maua mai ni fesoasoani mo le va’aia lelei o punaoa o le gataifale. O nei fesoasoani
ua mafai ai ona tatou maua fa’amaumauga mai lea taimi i lea taimi ma fa’amatalaga mo’omia
mo su’esu’ega o se vaega o la tatou tete’e atu i fagotaga fa’asoli tulafono, aemaise lava pe a
tupu i si o tatou ogasami. E mo’omia pea lo tatou galulue fa’atasi pea ma a tatou pa’aga i le
fa’aitulagi o lo’o mafai ona maua mai ai fesoasoani nei ina ia mafai ona fa’amalosia ma fa’aauau
lo tatou tete’e atu i faiga faiva fa’asolitulafono.
Ia tatou manatua o lo’o ia tei tatou le matafaioi e pulea tatau ai punaoa tau faiga faiva aua le
lumanai manuia o tupulaga fai mo a taeao. E avea ai lenei avanoa matou te fia tutu fa’atasi ai
ma le fa’alapotopotoga o meaai ma fa’atoaga a atunuu tu’ufaatasi mo le fa’amanatuina o lenei
aso fa’apitoa e tete’e atu ai i faiga faiva fa’asolitulafono.

Soifua ma ia Manuia.