Goal: Support the establishment of a national network of no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) encompassing at least 40,000 km² of inshore and offshore ocean by 2025

The Blue Nature Alliance is working with the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MNRE), The National Ocean Steering Committee (NOSC), Conservation International Samoa (CI), and the Samoan Voyaging Society (SVS) to designate and support the protection of ecologically representative and well-connected systems of MPAs. 

Samoa’s ocean area accounts for 98% of its national territory and has sustained the country’s Indigenous residents for over 3000 years. Samoa’s ancestors were master ocean navigators, establishing a profound and enduring connection with the sea of surrounding islands. This deep bond remains central to the nation’s culture and traditions, rooted in respect for and reliance on its ocean. With an impressive 120 community reserves established, the traditional village governance system plays a vital role in managing and protecting coastal areas and marine resources.  

Over the past decade, Samoa has consistently and significantly progressed in ocean resource management. In October 2020, the Prime Minister officially launched the Samoa Ocean Strategy (SOS), a commitment to protect 30% of its exclusive economic zone by 2025.  

Samoa gained its independence from colonial rule in 1962, becoming the first Polynesian nation to re-establish its sovereignty. Afterward, Samoa experienced a revival of traditional practices and values that significantly shaped the country’s post-independence identity and development. Driven by a desire to reclaim and preserve the Indigenous culture and restore governance systems eroded under colonial rule, a key aspect of this revival was the re-establishment and strengthening of the matai system.   

The matai system is the traditional chief and village governance system that emphasizes hierarchical leadership, communal decision-making, and preserving customary practices. A highly respected and regarded as one of the oldest and most effective systems of governance in the Pacific, the matai system has been incorporated into the modern legal and governance framework of Samoa, resulting in a unique blend of traditional and contemporary governance structures. 

Samoa’s commitment to preserving and promoting Polynesian culture, its traditional governance systems, and its regional influence have positioned the country as a respected and influential nation within the Polynesian and wider Pacific context. In Samoa, ocean resources management is embedded into traditional practices that persisted through generations and governance structures, with the integration of customary knowledge, community participation, and cultural values contributing to the resilience and success of conservation initiatives.  

With increasing demand for marine resources, Samoa is taking a bold step to foster a longer-term integrated vision for the sustainable and integrated management of its ocean and its resources. The Samoa Ocean Strategy (SOS) is a comprehensive strategy towards integrated management of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to support economic growth, protect important ecological habitats, and safeguard important sources of protein and income for Samoans. SOS consolidates the country’s approach to ocean management and significantly scales up efforts to increase the protected area network from 1% to 30% by 2025. 

Initial implementation of the SOS was enabled through a collaboration between the Government of Samoa, Conservation International, the Waitt Foundation, and the Blue Prosperity Coalition. The Blue Nature Alliance has joined forces to amplify efforts to complete Samoa’s marine spatial planning process by supporting the final round of community consultations to formalize the inshore network of MPAs.  To inform decision making, the Alliance is also contributing to an assessment of the potential economic impact and financing needed to manage the proposed MPA network.   

In collaboration with Samoa Voyaging Society, the Alliance is helping to build the capacity and amplify the reach of, the Guardian Campaign. The Guardian Campaign is an educational and cultural program that engages with communities to foster the revival of traditional knowledge and its integration into marine science using the traditional voyaging canoe (Va’a) as a floating classroom. This initiative contributes to a robust pipeline of future ocean conservation champions and cultural practitioners.