APIA, Republic of Samoa, Aug 23 (IPS) – In Samoa, we use a simple phrase to describe our way of life: Fa’asamoa. At the heart of this concept is respect for others, dedication to family and a deep appreciation for the conservation of our natural resources. Importantly, Fa’asamoa has enabled us to sustainably fish our vibrant coral reefs for millennia, in a way that provides good health and prosperity for everyone in our communities.
We share our abundance of fish species — including albacore, yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna — with the world, but the fish in our waters also serve as a foundation for our local cultures and diets. Without them, Fa’asamoa cannot exist.
But coastal fisheries across our four inhabited islands, halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, are under greater threat than ever. This is because carbon pollution is changing the ocean around us, making it rising, more acidic and less teeming with life than we ever imagined possible.
A wave of cyclones and heat damage fragile coral reefs that support our fisheries and flood and erode our coastal areas. We have built sea defences, flood riskand displaced communities whose land had been damaged by cyclones and the gradual effects of climate change, such as erosion.
Our actions did not cause the climate crisis, but we are facing its most dramatic consequences. That is why leaders from the Pacific and other island nations have become world leaders in climate action.
In recent years, our calls for island nations to be held accountable for the damage they have caused to our climate and oceans through their greenhouse gas emissions have been heard at the highest courts and at the most important international meetings. Finally, the world is starting to listen.
Recently, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled that countries are legally responsible for polluting the ocean with greenhouse gas emissions. The Pacific nation of Tuvalu, along with leaders of small island states around the world, took the case to court. Vanuatu pushed for a similar measure at the International Criminal Court.
We are successful, but our work has only just begun.
This October, Samoa will host a meeting of leaders from 56 Commonwealth countries, 49 of which border or are surrounded by water. As the first Pacific nation to host the biennial meetingwe have a good moment to draw attention to the urgent need for action for the ocean.
Fortunately, His Royal Highness King Charles III has shown his unwavering support for one of the best options we have to protect the ocean: marine protected areas (MPAs).
Science has long shown that setting aside marine areas where harmful activities are prohibited increases food supplies, provides economic benefits, and builds resilience to the climate crisis. Based on this research, commitments to protect 30% of the ocean have now been enshrined in multiple global agreements, including the biodiversity agreement that will also be discussed in Cali, Colombia, in October.
But simply promising protection isn’t enough. MPAs that strictly protect the ocean from extractive activities need to be created — and fast. Pacific countries have established MPAs and are on track to establish many more, working with scientists, local communities and conservationists.
In Samoa, traditional communities have established more than 70 no-take zones — traditional fishing reserves that are managed and maintained by the villages themselves. In 2003, we established national reserves for migratory sharks, whales, dolphins and turtles.
As part of Samoa’s Ocean Strategy and marine spatial planning process, 30% of our EEZ will be protected as marine protected areas, with 100% managed sustainably.
Niue, the Solomon Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and several other Pacific countries have also established important marine protected areas, some of which are community-led.
The industrial fishing industry has blocked the creation of MPAs for so long. Their argument is almost always that fishing bans are bad for their business. But recent studies have shown us that MPAs actually replenish fish stocks.
So even if fishing is prohibited within an MPA, more fish will spill over into areas outside the protected zone, where fishing is allowed. The fishing industry benefits. A recent study of more than 50 MPAs in more than 30 countries worldwide found that protection boosted fishing or tourism, with profits running into the billions.
In Samoa, coastal communities have long known that sustainable fishing methods ensure a steady supply of fish. They use a combination of traditional techniques and high-tech tools. We know that many Commonwealth countries have a similar relationship with the ocean, from Scotland and Trinidad to Tobago and the Seychelles.
The international community has an important opportunity in the coming months to recognize the urgency of protecting the ocean, our shared resource, before it is too late.
Cedric Schuster is the Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Minister of the Samoa Tourism Authority, which jointly oversee the country’s climate change, forestry, water resources and lands. The Minister is a traditional leader from the village of Satapuala.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
