On the 25th of November 2024, Conservation International (CI) successfully concluded the second day
of a two-day workshop with representatives from Samoa’s Tuna fisheries sector. The workshop aimed
to introduce the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Certification Pre-assessment process and socialise
the concepts such as Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) and Coastal Fishery Improvement Projects
(cFIPs) to the local stakeholders.
The MSC Certification is an internationally recognized certification and labelling program for wildlife
fisheries that meets the best sustainable fisheries practices required by Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO), the certification rewards sustainable fisheries practices through various benefits
such as access to niche markets, secure long-term buyers, and enhancing the fisheries standards
contributing to sustainable fisheries. Similarly to the MSC process, FIPs are multi-stakeholder initiatives,
rewarded by seafood markets, as they aim to improve a fishery towards sustainability and MSC
certification.
Representatives from the government, inter-governmental organisations, civil society groups and
private sector such as the Tautai Alia Associations and Apia Export Fish Packers Co. Ltd were the key
stakeholders in this convening. The aim was to introduce these concepts and the benefits they can
provide to enhance and strengthen the environmental and economic performance of Samoa’s Tuna
Industry, through contributions to sustainable fishing of the tuna resource and access to new rewarding
markets with secured long-term consumers.
The MSC/FIP process is one component of the Pacific Tuna Jurisdictional Approach (JA) project,
which targets one of the three pillars for improvement in Samoa’s tuna fisheries sector, strengthening
environmental performance. The Jurisdictional Approach project, funded by Walmart Foundation in its
commitments to ocean conservation and management, drives sustainable production through policy
and market-based approaches that aligns incentives between government, seafood market, producers
and supply chain companies using a human rights-based approach to fisheries governance.
Conservation International remains dedicated to advancing the sustainable development of Samoa’s
fishing industry, while also supporting the Samoa Ocean Strategy and the 30×30 marine protection
initiative, working closely with local stakeholders to implement the recommendations discussed during
the workshop