The Savaia Marine Biodiversity Conservation Project is a village based, owned and operated protected area. Marine resources are managed in a sustainable manner for the benefit of village people now and in the future. The aim is to sustain the momentum and success of the existing reserve by extending its boundaries to accord protection of a wider area of the village marine environment and to reintroduce certain marine species that were once abundant in the area. The ultimate goal is to declare a significant part of the coastal lagoon area of Savaia marine reserve and to apply sound management practices in its operations. The project has a strong partnership with the Fisheries Division providing on-going technical support.

Source: SGP Samoa

Location & History

The Savaia village and Marine Reserve are located in the south western region of the island of Upolu, along the Lefaga Bay about 30 miles from Samoa’s capital, Apia.

The Savaia Marine Reserve was established by decision of the village council in 2001 as part of the AusAID-funded community-based fisheries programme implemented by the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries (MAFF). The Savaia Reserve is one of more than 50 similar village projects supported by that programme. Over the years, other donors such as the GEF-UNDP Small Grants Program (SGP), AusAID, NZAID and the European Union have also provided support for the village project.

The Goal

The goal of the Savaia Marine Reserve is “to improve the health of the coastal and marine environment from the impacts of cyclones, land-based pollution and unsustainable fishing practices”. Prior to the establishment of the reserve, the coastal resources of the village (including corals and reef) were seriously degraded as a result of cyclones ‘Ofa’ and ‘Valeria’ in 1990 and 1991 respectively.

Management

The Savaia Marine Reserve is owned and managed by the village community. A Project Steering Committee (PSC), appointed by the village council, is responsible for implementing the project’s Management Plan and reports to the village council on a regular basis. Village women and other groups are often called upon to assist the implementation of particular activities of the project management plan as necessary.

By-Laws

With the help of the Fisheries Division, by-laws for the marine reserve were developed and approved in 2007. The by-laws give the village legal powers to protect the resources of the reserve and to take action against offenders.

Resources of the Reserve

Corals
The reserve contains a rich diversity of fish and colorful live coral species. Today, approximately 98 percent of the no-take zone of the reserve is completely covered by live coral. This is compared to less than 10 percent coverage when the reserve was first established. The most dominant coral species are pavona, porites and acropora.

Fish
During a recent marine resource survey of the reserve, up to 50 species of fish were observed in the no-take zone. They include parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, damselfish, wrasses, triggerfish, surgeonfish and trevallies. Small black tip sharks have been seen swimming with schools of mullets close to shore. Hawksbill turtles have been found nesting in the area from time to time.

Invertebrates
In 2001, 500 young giant clams (Tridacna spp) from Palau were introduced into the reserve. Another 500 young clams were imported from Tonga in August 2007. A few trochus animals (aliao) were also introduced by the Fisheries Division in 2007. Colonies of sea urchins are common in the reserve and the population of sea cucumbers is slowly increasing. The blue starfish and greenfish are found in the reserve.

1) What changes have you witnessed since the marine reserve was set up?

Since the marine reserve was set up, one of the notable changes is that the fish are now bigger then they were in the past. When we went fishing in the past, we had to go beyond the reef in order to get a good sizeable catch. Nowadays, we do not have to go far, to get what we need. The marine reserve has also seen to the revival of the coral reef, which in the past was nearly dead. I notice now that the reef is teaming with life, varieties of fish and other sea specimens can be found there now .

The marine reserve is important because it helps sustain the village way of life. Even though we are not able to fish in the area, it has not affected us negatively in anyway. There is a great improvement in terms of the size of the fish now, in contrast to the past, also, it takes less time for us to fish now that we do not have to go very far to get what we need.

3) What impacts has the marine reserve imposed on you and the village? If any, what are they?

The only impact that the marine reserve has had on me and the village is that the area can no longer be fished, but I do not mind because it does not hinder the fact that we continue to catch good sizeable fish each day and therefore we do not feel that the marine reserve has impacted on us negatively. In a more positive light, by setting up the marine reserve, even though we fish on a daily basis, we rely more on our plantations now to sustain us. In other words, the marine reserve has seen to the promotion of hard work within the village and has seen to the development of many plantations.

Malologa Leapai Sosopo

1) What changes have you witnessed since the marine reserve was set up?

In the past, I could not get a decent catch for the day. If I did catch any fish, they were usually small fish. However, now, ever since the marine reserve was set up ,I am catching a decent amount of fish each day, usually I have enough to not only feed my family but also to sell.

Its importance lies in the fact that the marine reserve helps preserve resources for the future generations of the village. The state of the coral reef in the past was not very good; this may have been the main contributing factor to the reason why fishermen were not catching a substantial amount of fish each day.

3) What impacts has the marine reserve imposed on you and the village? If any, what are they?

The impacts of the marine reserve have been positive. By setting up a marine reserve in the village, we are more aware of the need to preserve our natural resources sustainably. The reef has improved significantly from the past, this is important since we once relied on the sea as a way to sustain us. Now, the marine reserve has encouraged us to take up farming as an alternative to fishing. I consider this a positive change because it means that we alternative ways of making a living rather than relying on the ocean entirely.

1) What changes have you witnessed since the marine reserve was set up?

I have noticed that the fish that we are catching are now bigger then they were in the past. I also have witnessed a change in the coral reef; it is much better, in the sense that it now has numerous varieties of fish and is a habitat for various sea creatures. The size of the fish is a by product of the now, healthy coral reef.

The marine reserve has made me realize the importance in protecting our coral reefs for future generations. If we fail to look after the coral reefs, it will hinder the ability of future generations to use the sea as a resource to sustain them. The marine reserve has helped me realize that the key to ensuring our future generations resources is through sustainable development.

3) What impacts has the marine reserve imposed on you and the village? If any, what are they?

One of the impacts of the marine reserve is that we are now banned from fishing in that area. However, it does not affect us greatly because we know that by not fishing in the marine reserve we are securing the resources for the future generation and conserving the oceans resources

1) What changes have you witnessed since the marine reserve was set up?

 I have seen an enormous improvement in our fisheries since the marine reserve was set up. In the past, our fish were very small and we usually had to go beyond the reef to catch them. Now, we get bigger fish and we do not have to go beyond the reef anymore to catch them. I know this change is the fact that the marine reserve has revived our reefs.

I am now more aware of conservation more than ever. Back then, we did not know better about the importance of the reefs and how it would affect us if we failed to look after it. Now, we have gained a better understanding of the importance of conserving our resources so our future generations will benefit from it. The marine reserve is therefore important to me because it has allowed me to understand more that us and the environment are interdependent, in order to get what you need out of the environment, you have to give something back. I do my part by adhering to the laws of village regarding the marine reserve and I refrain from using illegal methods of catching fish that could harm the reef.

3) What impacts has the marine reserve imposed on you and the village? If any, what are they?

There are no bad impacts of the marine reserve. We continue to enjoy the positive impacts it has had on the village. We are able to catch what we need without going far and we are more aware of conservation and our duty to securing resources for future generations.

1) What changes have you witnessed since the marine reserve was set up?

Nowadays, there is a greater variety of fish available then in the past. The marine reserve has brought our reef back to life, and the villagers have seen the notable changes as well. We are getting bigger fish nowadays, and since the marine reserve cannot be fished, we work harder on our plantations.

The marine reserve is important to me because it helps to protect and conserve our coral reefs. It helps to ensure that there are enough resources available for the future generation

3) What impacts has the marine reserve imposed on you and the village? If any, what are they?

Despite the fact that we no longer can fish in the protected area I think the pros outweigh the cons, which are minimal in this matter. In giving up fishing in the protected area, we gain resources that can be used sustainably for now and the future.