Fisheries Sector to be a Separate Ministry

By Esther Yvonne Atonio/

Apia, SAMOA – 8 April 2026: Cabinet has approved the separation of the Fisheries Division from the Ministry of Agriculture and set up as a new ministry for fisheries.

Prime Minister and former Minister of Agriculture, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt said there is a lot of potential to grow the fisheries sector on its own if it is separated from the agriculture sector.

Laauli said the plan to separate the two sectors has been in the pipeline for some time and emphasized that the fishery sector is huge, but it didn’t get the priority it deserves as much as the opportunities given the development of agriculture.

During his time as Minister of Agriculture, there had been progress made in developing a new fisheries wharf at Mulifanua and securing partnerships between local fishermen and overseas companies and to upgrade the Savalalo fish market.

He also said the annual exhibition of agriculture and fisheries harvest – Ulua’i Seleselega and the fruits of other community-based projects will be continued when the next Government budget passes and all 51 districts will be involved.