Cabinet Accept Separation of Agriculture & Fisheries

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 19 October 2023: Cabinet have accepted a proposal to separate the ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao confirmed that the proposal has been accepted and that the Ministry is now preparing to implement the establishment of two separate entities.

The Minister said the rationale behind the proposed separation is to maximise the great potential for Fisheries if it stands alone rather than being dominated by agriculture as had been for the last sixty years.

He said agriculture seems to dominate fisheries development including its budget but he sees major potentials for fisheries for Samoa’s economic development and should be prioritised.

Laauli said Samoa is currently losing out to other countries that have longline fishing boats utilizing our facilities to off-load their catch, reload into containers then export.

“We are not utilizing this to gain any added value for us and our intention is to maximize benefit out of this rather than just transhipping fish,” he said.

He noted the great number of local commercial fishing boats cramped together in a small area at Savalalo and the plan is to develop a fisheries wharf and facility at Mulifanua.

Replanting seaweeds in a fisheries project that the Ministry is working with the villages.

He also said Samoa could also be looking at a fish processing plant as part of the overall fisheries development under a stand-alone ministry.

There is only one Chief Executive Officer for the current ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and fisheries always seem to get the second priority.

“Fisheries should have its own CEO and administration so they could deal directly with the fisheries development and international agencies such as the Forum Fishing Agency and invest not only in development and harvest of our marine resources but the protection and sustainability of fisheries resources and supplies.”

Preparation for the separation is now before the office of the Attorney General.