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 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 the 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 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 the Walmart Foundation in its commitments to ocean conservation and management, drives sustainable production through policy and market-based approaches that align incentives between governments, seafood markets, 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.
PO Box 2035
Apia, SAMOA
Tel: +685 21593
www.conservation.org
For more information, contact:
Emalus Malifa at [email protected]
Conservation International: +685 21593
About Conservation International
Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Visit Conservation.org for more.
