REPORT ON THE SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION OUTER REEF FISHERIES PROJECT IN WESTERN SAMOA

Transcription

1 REPORT ON THE SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION OUTER REEF FISHERIES PROJECT IN WESTERN SAMOA 1 April 31 October 1975 by Howard Hume Project Manager and Reg Eginton Master Fisherman Edited by R.H. Baird Fisheries Adviser 55/76 South Pacific Commission Noumea, New Caledonia February 1976

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 Project Personnel 1 Training 1 Boats and equipment 2 Area of operations 2 Poisonous fish 3 Fishing effort 3 Marketing 4 Boats suitable for further operations 5 Economics of Fishing in the Asau Area 6 Follow-up operations 8 Summary of recommendations APPENDICES I. Fish Species Caught 13 II. Fishing Methods 15 III. List of basic fishing equipment for an FAO 28 ft. fishing vessel 19 iii

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the helpful assistance given to us by all the Government Departments with which we had to deal. These included Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries; Customs; Immigration; Post and Telegraph; Public Works and Treasury. Both Air Samoa and Potlatch (Samoa) inc., gave frequent and welcome help in the field as did Mr Pale Taumaia, Fisheries Liaison Officer. Forestry Officers, Messrs Tiitii Lemafa and Karl Tolley, gave us every possible assistance. The Member of Parliament for the Vaisala region, the Honourable Vaai Kolone and the Member for Sataua and Minister for Lands, the Honourable Lesatele Rapi, both took a keen interest in the Project, as did Dr Jack Slattery, Peace Corps Training Officer, Mr Hans Kruse, Director of Economic Development and Mr Iulai Toma, Representative for Western Samoa on the South Pacific Commission. Mr Luatua Vesi, the Fisheries Controlling Officer, gave us every possible aid. Close collaboration was maintained between SPC and the FAO Fisheries Adviser, Mr. Oyvind Gulbrandsen and later the FAO Boatbuilder, Mr Arild Overaa. It was felt that this was a good example of two international organizations working together towards a common objective. We would like to express our appreciation of the active interest shown in the Project by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Honourak Vaovasamanaia Filipo. Finally we are deeply indebted to Mr Willie Meredith, Director of Agriculture, for the very real support and assistance he gave the Project from the time of the original decision to move to Western Samoa and his enthusiastic help throughout our entire time there. v

4 SUMMARY The Project Transferred from the New Hebrides and arrived in Western Samoa in late March Because of delays in starting due to damage to boats and a period of boat unserviceability in mid-project, the Project was emended by one month to 31 October Asau in the northwest of the island of Savai i was chosen as base. This choice was vindicated as the harbour proved to be satisfactory and was well away from the main centre of population with reasonable fishing grounds within easy reach. The Project operated throughout with one 24 ft. aluminium boat and one 24 ft. Pago Pago-built Oregon dory, both boats having jet drives, early October a second Pago-built dory was delivered, diesel-powered and shaft and propeller-driven. One FAO designed 28 ft., outboard-powered, locally-built boat was made available to the Project by the Government for a period of about two months. A similar boat, but with a 33 h.p. inboard diesel engine, was ordered and was delivered to the Project just prior to departure for the Cook Islands. In view of the fact that Western Samoan fishermen have considerable experience in trolling with outboard-powered local canoes, the Project effort in fishing and training was concentrated on deep water bottom fishing with hand and electric winch reels, trolling only being undertaken on an opportunist and experimental basis, and to supply bait for bottom fishing. SPC Project personnel consisted of the Project Manager, the Master Fisherman, Skipper Fishermen and a Marine Mechanic. two Boat In the course of the Project 13 trainees were attached to the Project for periods of from four to ten weeks. The Project was self-contained in that it had its own ice-making plant and an 18 m 3 freezer, the latter not being used in Asau a domestic freezer cabinet proved to be sufficient. Fish marketing was done locally through a Government representative and sold at the Government controlled price of 20 sene (21 cts. A.) per lb. Much exploratory fishing was done and areas of abundance of fish were not fished regularly. One 16-day period of simulated commercial fishing by two boats each with two men produced an-average catch of 140 lb. (63 kg) per trip of bottom fish and 179 lb. (81 kg) per trip of pelagic fish. Over a six-month period the average bottom catch per night per boat was 182 lb. (83 kg), and the average trolling and poling catch 61 lb. (28 kg). vii

5 Introduction 1. The South Pacific Commission Outer Reef Artisanal Fishing Project transferred from the New Hebrides to Asau, Savai i, Western Samoa via Apia, the port of entry, in late March Because of delays in the start of fishing operations and lost fishing time in June, when both boats were unoperational for most of the month, the Project was extended to a 7-month period, i e. from 1 April to 31 October. 2. The aims of the Project were to survey local resources and assess the economic feasibility of fishing commercially, to determine and demonstrate fishing techniques suitable to the area, and to train local fishermen. The ultimate goal was to assess the feasibility of the establishment of village-level fishing efforts that would utilize coastal fish resources, provide high protein food at a reasonable cost, and reduce the present high level of imports of foreign canned fish products. Project Personnel 3. The initial Project team in Western Samoa was Project Manager H.R. Hume; Master Fisherman R. Eginton and Boat Skipper/Fishermen P.D. Mead and C.B. Scott. In Augnst N. Nicoll, Marine Mechanic, joined the team. 4. Mr Pale Taumaia, Fisheries Assistant from the Fisheries Division, Apia, acted as liaison officer with the Project throughout its time in Asau. Eight other members from the Fisheries Division were also attached to the team at some time during its operation. Training 5. Thirteen fishermen trainees were attached to the team for periods of from four to ten weeks. Two of these men were from Asau, six from Falealupo, three from Auala, one from Neiafu and one from NPF Apia. Many more local people visited the Project, some of whom joined us for fishing trips. More men would have been trained if recruiting methods could have been improved. Many of the village leaders were loath to encourage their men to join us when crops were being worked. We are indebted to Father Frank Ward for his assistance in sending fishermen from the Falealupo region for training with the Project. 6. The majority of the trainees who joined the Project had experience in trolling from outrigger canoes and were energetic and keen to learn any new techniques. Because Western Samoans were already experienced in trolling for skipjack tuna, the majority of our training effort was invested in deep bottom fishing methods using electric and mechanical winch reels and hand lines (see Appendix II for description of fishing methods). An evaluation of the fishermen trained and their suitability to be recipients of loans for boats and equipment will be forwarded separately to the Director of Agriculture. 7. In addition to Mr Pale Taumaia, eight fishermen from the Fisheries Department, Apia, were attached to the Project at various times to gain experience with the equipment and techniques and to provide a pool of more experienced fishermen to assist in fishing on both the Project boats and the 28 ft. government vessel. 1

6 Boats and Equipment 8. The two 24 ft. boats shipped from the New Hebrides were used throughout the period in Asau. One was a New Zealand-built aluminium boat driven by a 70 h.p. (56 h.p. continuous) Nissan Datsun diesel engine and a 1011 jet unit. Although a satisfactory platform for bottom fishing it was underpowered, the jet was ineffecient and its slow speed was a major limitation in surface fishing for tuna, marlin, dolphin fish etc., and when extensive running to the fishing ground was required. The other vessel was a Pago Pago-built plywood Oregon dory driven by a 135 h.p. Lees Marine Ford Falcon petrol engine and a Hamilton 750 jet unit. 9. In early October a second Pago Pago plywood boat was delivered. This boat was originally scheduled to be completed in March to coincide with the team's arrival in Western Samoa, in order to make a three-boat operation. This craft represented the last of the line of about 20 Pago Pago-built dories which had evolved through petrol-driven inboard/outboard drives, jet drive units to this 70 h. (56 h.p. continuous) Chrysler-Nissan diesel engine powered boat with conventional shaft and propellor drive. To offset the absence of one vessel due to the late delivery of the Pago boat, one of the newly constructed 28 ft. FAO designed fishing craft from Apia, with a Fisheries Department crew, was attached to the Project for approximately one-third of the Project time in Asau. 10. It was decided to have built in Apia a modified FAO design 28 ft. craft (see figure 1) * with a deck house, self-draining deck and an inboard 33 h.p. Perkins diesel engine. The vessel was Completed a few days prior to the Project departure. The SPC fleet now numbers four fishing vessels. 11. A Resco block icemaker, driven by a 7-1/2 h.p. Petter diesel engine, with a capacity of 1,000 lb. ice/12 hours was used throughout. Apart from a tendency to crack the air cooling cowling by its vibrations the unit proved a reliable asset to the operation. 12. The 18 cubic metre Soconair modular freezer was not used in Asau as replacement parts for the Wisconsin petrol engine proved unobtainable. In lieu, an electric domestic 22 cubic ft. deep freeze unit was used for the storage of bait As there was such a ready market for fresh iced fish the lack of a freezer was not crucial. 13. A large assortment of fishing equipment from the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand was carried. A list of basic equipment for a 28 ft. FAO vessel is included as Appendix III to this report, Area of Operations 14. Asau Harbour was chosen as the site for the Project in Western Samoa Asau is situated on the north coast of the island of Savai i near the western tip. As in the New Hebrides, the site chosen was away from the main centre of population in an endeavour to decentralize the fisheries effort. * available from Mr Gulbrandsen. 2

7 15. Asau Harbour is the most sheltered bay in Savai i and is a natural choice for a fishing base at that end of the country. There are several fishermen in the region, extending from Asau village in the east through Auala, Vaisala, Sataua and Papa villages to Falealupo in the west. Most are part-time fishermen who fish to supplement the local diet when there is little activity in the copra and cocoa plantations. One exception to the above is an experienced fisherman from Papa who fishes on a more regular basis and makes a living mainly from his fishing activities. 16. The fishing grounds utilised extended from Safotu in the north central coast of Savai i to Cape Mulinu u and the Falealupo region at the western end of the island, with occasional sorties along the south eastern coast. The most productive areas were the shallow banks off Falealupo, the inshore waters just to the east of Asau Harbour and the Satua region. The trolling areas extended to 15 miles offshore while the bottom fishing was conducted in depths of fathoms, 1/4 to 2 miles off the coastline. Poisonous Fish 17. Ciguatera poisoning is a relatively minor problem in Western Samoa, compared with the New Hebrides. The only fish known to be poisonous in the area is Lutjanus bohar, the red bass or, as it is known locally, Mu. Several cases of ciguatera poisoning resulting from eating this species have been recorded at the Apia Public Hospital. No Mu caught was sold. However, Samoan fishermen with the Project insisted on eating the Mu caught rather than throw it away and they suffered no ill effects over the seven-month period. Fishing Effort 18. With the exception of June when both boats were not operational for most of the month, the fish catches increased in volume from April through to a peak of 4, 803 lb. in July. Thereafter they dropped with a secondary peak of 2,383 lb. in October. The figures in Appendices I and II represent a total wet weight and are 10 to 20% higher than the record of fish sold as the majority of the skipjack was put aside for bait and most of the larger fish were butchered prior to sale to the public thereby losing up to 40% of their weight. Poisonous fish represented less than 5% of the catch and shark approximately 7%. 19. The average catch from bottom fishing up to end of October was 182 lb., based on 77 trips. For surface trolling and poling the average weight of the catch was 61 lb. for 31 trips. 20. Emphasis was placed on searching for new bottom fishing grounds throughout rather than consistently fishing the more abundant areas in the region. * Lutjanus bohar is listed as L. coatesi in Grant s Guide to Fishes. (Ed.) 3

8 21. Weather and sea conditions were the main restricting factors in limiting the operation of our 24 ft. boats. A strong diurnal NE wind persisted throughout the period May to October. This wind increased in velocity in mid-forenoon, typical of such sea breezes. If this wind died away in mid-afternoon, conditions were usually satisfactory for overnight bottom fishing. If it continued till dusk or later, sea conditions were usually too rough. 22. From the time of arrival of the Marine Mechanic to join the Project in early August, only three days were lost through boat unserviceability. 23. For the period 14 to 30 October a simulated commercial fishing exercise was conducted using two boats skippered by one Project member and one experienced Fisheries Department Samoan fisherman. Fifteen trips (eight bottom fishing, seven surface fishing (trolling) trips) were carried out and a total of 2,383.5 lb. of fish caught. This represented 1,126 lb. of bottom fish averaging lb./trip and 1,257.5 lbs of surface fish averaging lb./trip. 24. Over a six-month period up to early October the average catch per night per boat, bottom fishing, was 182 lb., while the average catch per day, pelagic fishing, was 61 lb. These figures are at some considerable variance with those of the simulated commercial fishing period in October referred to above. However, October proved to be the beginning of the skipjack and yellowfin season around Savai i and during this period trolling could well give good commercial returns. The reason the catches during this period of commercial simulation are lower than the long-term average is not known. 25. During a seven-day period in mid-project, one boat caught 2,238.5 lb. of bottom fish in four trips at an average of 560 lb./trip. This period must have represented optimum conditions and was unfortunately atypical as it was never repeated. Marketing 26. The sale of fish was handled by a Government Fisheries Department representative or, in his absence, by Project members. Monies from these sales were deposited in the Fisheries Department Post Office Savings Bank account in Asau and used later to offset the Project running costs of fuel for the boats and icemaker and for the payments made to trainee fishermen, Sales totalled $WS2,850, based on the official Government selling prices of 20 sene/lb, for fish and 10 sene/lb, for shark meat. 27. The majority of the fish was sold direct to the public on the beach on return from fishing. Fish up to 30 lb. were sold whole, i.e. heads on and ungutted, as this is the way buyers preferred them. Sharks and the larger cod and grouper were cut up and sold piecemeal. The demand for fish showed a direct correlation with the Potlatch Timber Company s fortnightly pay cycle, with a high demand for the first few days after pay Friday, reducing to a spasmodic demand and a greater interest in shark meat immediately before the next pay-day. When large catches were lauded towards the end of the fortnightly cycle they were often sold through the larger local stores. These outlets had deep freezers and were able to offer their regular customers Credit sales, a service that a Government selling operation was unable to offer. 4

9 28. The greatest demand was for the smaller fish in the 2 lb. to 10 lb. range which could be cooked and eaten by a small family. The larger fish in the 15 lb. to 30 lb. range were bought mainly for feasts and by those Potlatch personnel with deep freeze units. As, in general, the larger fish were caught in the deeper water far in excess of 80 fathoms and the smaller fish in the shallower regions, the size of fish caught can to some degree be varied to suit the current demands. 29. On the few occasions when the local stores could not take some of the larger catches, the catches were iced and sold from the back of the Project s utility truck in the villages on either the north or south coasts of Savai i between Asau and Saleloga. 30. All species of fish caught sold well, with the smaller pain malu (Etelis) and palu sina (Aprion) being the best sellers. 31. One difficulty in selling fish locally at the official selling price of 20 sene/lb, was that Project fish tended to undersell those caught by local fishermen who had become accustomed to selling on the open market for up to 30 sene/lb. To avoid discouraging local fishing efforts, the Project retained for bait most of the skipjack and yellowfin caught and left the tuna market open for local suppliers. The Project concentrated on catching and selling bottom fish, a stock that was virtually untouched in the region. Boats suitable for further Operations 32. Mr Oyvind Gulbrandsen, FAO Fisheries Adviser to the Western Samoan Government, has taken the approach that before you can build up village-level fishing you must first have boats suitable for both bottom fishing and trolling. Under the direction of Mr Arild Overaa, FAO Boatbuilder, an energetic team of ex-lepers have started an active boat-building project in Apia constructing both 28 ft. and 18 ft. fishing vessels to FAO designs. The plan has been to provide the most basic and lowest cost hull as a standard unit, then charge extra for any additions such as a half cabin, self-draining deck, etc. The basic 18 ft. boat sells at $WS460 and the 28 ft. boat at $720. With the addition of a 20 h.p. Mercury outboard, sold through the Agriculture store for $365, the boats total $825 and $1,085 respectively. 33. In an endeavour to lower these prices still further, money from DANIDA (Danish International Development Aid) will be used to train local boatbuilders and subsidize building materials. It is planned to give local craftsmen a short course in boatbuilding in Apia, then send them out to the fishing villages with a subsidized boat-kit. The future boat owners will give time and labour to assist in the boat construction and thereby reduce further the capital outlay. It is hoped that other aid money, possibly from New Zealand, might be used to provide low-interest loans to village fishermen who might find it difficult to provide much loan security. 34. The basic 28 ft. and 18 ft. prototypes were attached to the Project in Asau, the 28-footer for about three months, where it proved to be a good seaboat and entirely suitable for the types of fishing it was designed for. The 18-footer was available for too short a period for proper assessment but proved to be fast and manoueverable. 5

10 35. A modified 28 ft. boat with an inboard Perkins 33 h.p. diesel engine, a cabin, and self-draining deck was built for the SPC just before the Project left Western Samoa for the Cook Islands. The addition of a diesel engine, shaft and propeller more than trebles the overall cost and puts it out of the price range of most village-level fishermen. It is felt, however, that an inboard diesel is the next logical step in the development of this design, giving more reliability and lower operating costs and with an engine life much greater than outboard motors. It was felt that it was better to overpower rather than underpower the prototype. If the Perkins 33 h.p. proves to be more powerful than is necessary, cheaper, lower-powered diesels could be used. The Project will report on this boat in its use in the Cook Islands. Economics of Fishing in the Asau Area 36. At the level of catches sustained over the long-term and in the course of short-term commercial simulation cruises, the high fuel consumption of the two planing hulls used by the Project Oregon dory and aluminium hull jet drive make a fishing operation based on trolling uneconomic. 37. Both Project boats make reasonably stable platforms for night bottom fishing, but again high capital costs, high fuel costs incurred if the fishing grounds are more than a short distance away from base and high maintenance costs make it doubtful if an economic operation can be sustained. 38. However, with the catch rates sustained over considerable periods in the Asau area, it is possible to postulate the requirements for an economic fishing operation at the village level. 39. The following calculations are based on fisherman ownership. No calculation is made for the return on capital except that a figure of 10% per annum has been used for interest on capital. The cost of a 28 ft. semi-planing hull powered by an inboard diesel is assumed to be $5, The following two prospectuses are based upon Project catch rates, in case (a) 100 days (or nights) fishing a year and in case (b) 150 days fishing per year. 6

11 (a) 100 days fishing per annum Catch rate of 180 lb. per night (based on average catch of SPC Project boats over six-month period) at 30 cents Aust. per lb. = A$54.00 per night or A$5,400 per annum. Capital outlay 28 ft. (8.7 m) diesel-powered (33 h.p. ) semi-displacement hull complete WS$5,000 Capital and operating costs (Overall expenditure on 100 working days a year) Fuel; 100 days at 5 gal. per day at 60 cents per gal. 300 Lubricating oil, 10 percent of fuel 30 Ice 200 Maintenance 250 Fishing gear replacement 250 Repayment of capital (5 years) 1,000 Interest on capital at 10 percent: average per year on reducing loan 250 Insurance at 10 percent 500 2,780 Return to crew for 100 nights = A$2,620 per annum or $26.20 per night and boat repayment made in 5 years. (b) 150 days fishing per annum Catch rate 180 lb. per night at 30 cents per lb.= A$54. Gross income for 150 days at $54 per day A$8,100. Capital outlay WS$5,000 Capital and operating costs A$ Fuel: 150 days at 5 gal. per day at 60 cents per gal. 450 Lubricating oil 10 Ice 300 Maintenance 375 Fishing gear replacement 375 Repayment of capital (4 years) 1,250 Interest on capital at 10 percent: average per year on reducing loan 250 Insuraace at 10 percent 500 3,545 Return to crew for 150 nights = A$4,555 per annum or $30 per night and boat repayment made in 4 years. 7

12 41. In both cases, it is hoped that earnings could be supplemented by incidental and opportunist trolling, but fuel costs would then also be increased. 42. Once it had been shown that an economically feasible operation could be run at the village level, then assistance could be given, either by direct government intervention or by government encouragement of entrepreneurial development, to help the village fishermen gain access to the large market for fish in Apia. 43. An incentive that would be desirable to encourage village-level fishing would be the removal of tax on fuel for commercial fishing. The use of colour additives to prevent misuse has been used elsewhere. Another method used has been to charge the fisherman the full cost of fuel and then to credit the value of the tax against any outstanding loan on boat or equipment. 44. Where catches are highly seasonal, it would be desirable to have considerable flexibility built into the loan scheme so that major repayments could be made at times of maximum landings, e.g. possibility of repayment on percentage of earnings where loans and marketing are through either government or co-operatives. 45. In order to allow fishermen to take advantage of all fishing opportunities, it is vital that full ancillary support facilities are made readily available at the site of development. Minimum support requirements are: immediate and easy supply of clean fuel and lubricating oil, supply of ice, spares and maintenance facilities within easy reach. Standardization of power units will assist in getting local storekeepers or co-operatives to stock the right spares in required quantities. 46. Where social and other economic factors limit the number of days that a crew may be able or be prepared to go fishing in a year, it may be that entrepreneurial or matai (Chief) ownership could allow a rational crew system in order to encourage maximum utilization of the (comparatively) high capital cost boat and machinery. A similar system could be used with well managed co-operative ownership. Follow-up Operations 47. Prior to a visit of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Honourable Vaovasamanain Filipo, to the Project site in early September a paper Future Fisheries Development at the village level in Savai i was circulated. This paper together with comments by the Peace Corps Training Officer and the FAO Fisheries Adviser were later discussed in a meeting held in the Minister s office and attended by the Director of Agriculture, the FAO Fisheries Adviser, the Assistant General Manager of the Development Bank, the Village Loans Officer, the Peace Corps Training Officer, the Director JOCU, the SPC Project Manager and Master Fisherman. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Agriculture. 8

13 48. From these discussions and our seven months experience in the field we recommend that the development of village-level fisheries in Western Samoa proceed along the following lines: a) Continue the present active boat-building programme, with the addition of whatever aid that can be given in the form of loans or grants by the Development Bank, DANIDA or any other aid organisations. b) Continue the Peace Corps Outboard Motor Mechanic Project. Add more experienced men where possible and place a major emphasis on training counterparts in view of the planned cessation of Peace Corps activities in Western Samoa in five years time. c) Install block icemakers in selected localities around both main islands. The ready availability of cheap ice gives the village fisherman some options in where and when to sell his catch. Without ice he is forced to sell his catch as soon as he returns to the beach. If he has a large catch the local market is often temporarily glutted and he is forced to sell at reduced prices. With proper icing, his catch can be kept in a fresh condition for several days. Ice is also necessary to keep a supply of fresh bait available. d) In a step-by-step development, once village fishermen have demonstrated that they can catch fish regularly in excess of local demands, then consideration should be given to the installation of freezers, either of the domestic deep freezer variety or larger chambers plus the provision of suitable transport to move surplus iced or frozen fish to the Apia market. 49. Recommended sites for the initial installation of icemaking equipment in Savai i are: i. the western end of the island in the Asau-Falealupo region; ii. eastern or Saieloga area; iii. northern region in the vicinity of Safotu; iv. a station near the centre of the south coast. 50. A similar coverage for Upolu would be desirable when the feasibility of economic village fishing operations has been established. 51. Maintenance of the icemakers could be undertaken by the PWD and/or the Department of Agriculture or alternatively given by trained diesel machanics of the Peace Corps or some other volunteer organisation, who would train local staff. The maintenance of the unit in Asau could come under the operation of the mechanical workshop to be erected there in the near future, while the Salelologa unit could be associated with the PWD depot there. 9

14 52. The operation of these distribution and collection centres involves many social and political, as well as economic considerations. Suggestions for their operational control are: i. village fishermen s co-operation; ii. major local storekeeper or entrepreneur; iii. Fisheries Department representative; iv. village (Matai) leaders in the area; v. licensed fishtrader, who could well be (ii) above and who would be appointed and controlled by a Fish Marketing Committee. This option is more fully discussed in a separate proposal put forward by the FAO Fisheries Adviser. 53. In view of the very meagre coverage by hydrographic charts of the inshore waters around both islands in Western Samoa it is proposed that the New Zealand Government be approached with a request for the Royal New Zealand Naval Hydrographic Service to conduct a large-scale survey of inshore waters. This could best be done during the New Zealand winter when survey vessels find it difficult to operate in New Zealand waters. 54. In conclusion it is considered that strong village-level fisheries can be developed by assisting fishermen with loans to purchase boats and equipment, technical assistance to construct the boats and maintain their engines and the supply of cheap or free ice. Once these basic steps have been taken then it is up to the fishermen themselves to develop their own Industry to the level where freezers and refrigerated transportation become necessary. 10

15 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS It must be emphasised that the catch rates quoted are based upon a light fishing effort over a comparatively short period. The magnitude of the stocks cannot therefore be adequately described. A heavy fishing effort over a sustained period could well result in a much reduced catch rate where the grounds are limited or the stocks small. 1. It is recommended that continuation of the present FAO boat-building project constructing low cost 28 ft. and 18 ft. boats be supported. 2. It is recommended that loans be made readily available for village-level fishermen, in particular those that have shown themselves to be competent fishermen but lack the necessary loan security. 3. It is recommended that the Peace Corps and JOBC Outboard Motor Mechanic Project continue to provide assistance in the maintenance and repair of outboard motors at the village level and every effort be made to train counterparts. 4. It is recommended that block icemakers be installed at selected sites in both Savai i and Upolu to supply cheap or free ice to local fishermen. 5. It is recommended that, once village-level fishermen have demonstrated the ability to catch a regular surplus of fish over local demand, consideration then be given to the installation of freezer units and the supply of refrigerated transport to move surplus fish to Apia. In the early stages of development fish, properly handled, could be packed in ice and transported in specially constructed fish transport boxes. 6. It is recommended that when once the level discussed in (5) above is reached, FAO and/or New Zealand aid sources be approached to provide the necessary marketing and processing expertise and assistance. 7. It is strongly recommended that urgent consideration be given to increasing the official selling price of fish to at least 30 sene/lb, to offset rapidly increasing fuel and equipment costs. 8. It is recommended that consideration be given to supplying fishermen with tax exempted petrol and/or diesel. 9. It is recommended that the New Zealand Government be approached with a request for the Royal New Zealand Navy s Hydrographic Branch to conduct a large-scale inshore survey and selected reef blasting operations. 10. It is recommended that Asau be established as the fishing centre for Savai i. 11

16 APPENDIX I FISH SPECIES CAUGHT Scientific name English Samoan Etelis carbunculus Palu malau Etelis oculatus Palu loa Aphareus rutilans Cuvier Small tooth job fish Palu sega Aprion microlepis Bleeker Rosy job fish Palu siua Aprion virescens Cuvier and Valenciennes Green job fish Utu Tropidinius zonatus Savaue Ruvettus pretiosus Castor oil fish Palu talataia Gempylus serpens Snake mackerel Palu kamoro Epinephelidae Cod, Groper Natala (small) Ata ata (medium) Ulatu i (large) Carangidae Trevally Malauli, Fafauli Seriola purpurascens Amberjack Lutjanus bohar Red bass Mu, Muha a Fana moa Lutjanus malabaricus Scarlet sea perch Malai Lutjanus argentimaculatus Mangrove jack Tai va Lethrinella miniata Long-nosed emperor Filoa Holocentridae Soldier fish Malau Katsuwonus pelamis Skipjack Atu Maoso (very large) Neothunnus macropterus Yellowfin tuna Asiasi Gymnosarda nuda Dogtooth tuna Tagi Euthynnus alletteratus affinis Mackerel tuna Tavalau Coryphaena hippurus Dolphin fish Masimasi Exocoetidae Flying fish Ta uoa Malolo Acanthocybium solandri Wahoo Pala Sphyraenidae Barracudas Sapatu (small) Saosao (large) 13

17 Scientific name English Samoan Elegatis bipinnulatus Rainbow runner Kamai Istiophorus orientalis Sailfish Saula Makaira audax Marlin Sa u Istiompax marline Carcharhinidae Shark Mali e Sphyrnidae Hammerhead shark Mata-i-taliga Selar crumenop-thalnus Purse-eyed scad bream Atule Matamu Variola louti Lunar-tailed cod Nakala Muraenidae Moray eel Pusi 14

18 APPENDIX II FISHING METHODS The Project in Western Samoa concentrated on deep water demersal line fishing using Electric snapper reels (winch type). The reels were used both electrically and manually. At times hand lines of 250 lb. breaking strain monofilament were also used from the Manulele, the Norman Kirk not being suitable. The lines used with the reels consisted of the main line of 2,000 ft. of flexible multistrand stainless steel wire of 3/64" diameter, with a breaking strain of 275 lb. A leader, 10 to 15 fathoms long, of 250 lb. breaking strain monofilament was used instead of a rubber snubber. This was necessary to add spring or stretch to the steel line. The leader was connected to the main line by a size 7 or 9 torpedo type bronze swivel. The leader was attached to the steel main line by swaging sleeves of copper or bronze and the monofilament leader was attached below by a blood knot. A variety of terminal gear was tried, the cheapest being galvanised Japanese long line trace wire known as Turimoto wire; the size used was number 30. Flexible 7 by 7 strand stainless steel wire of 175 lb. (80 kg) breaking strain was tried for hook leaders. Three way swivels and swages were used. These traces were efficient but expensive. The wire kinked after little use; usually one large fish landed was enough to make replacement of the hook trace necessary. Nylon-covered stainless steel trace was also tried but was not successful, the trace usually breaking behind the swage. To make the three-hook terminal gear out of the flexible stainless Steel wire one requires 14 bronze sleeves and three three-way swivels. The sleeves cost three cents each, swivels 25 cents each and the wire seven cents per foot. Hooks, depending in the type and size, averaged out at 12 cents each. The complete terminal gear less sinker costs A$2.62. The Turimoto wire, unlike the stainless steel wire, could be tied in a knot to form the dropper to take the trace wire from the hook; the knot was the blood loop dropper knot. To attach the hook and sinker the wire was simply twisted around itself after being passed through the eye of the hook or sinker. The cost of this type of leader fitted with three No. 3 tuna circle hooks was 78 cents. This type of trace lasted, on the average, three nights fishing. Using all monofilament terminal gear would have been cheaper, and also easier and faster to make. This was tried in the New Hebrides; however far too much terminal gear and fish were lost, which in effect, made this rig more expensive than wire. In Samoa where shark is readily eaten, it is essential to use wire traces as shark comprised 7% of the saleable catch. Also, snake mackerel and the oil fish, Ruvettus, are almost impossible to boat without a wire trace. 15

19 A variety of different types and sizes of hooks were tried. Tuna circle hooks were the best all-round hooks used; the sizes varied from the smallest, No. 8, usually used when fishing in depths of 40 to 80 fathoms, to the largest, No. 3, used in the deeper water of 80 to 150 fathoms. Fishing in depths of over 80 fathoms, where the fish caught were usually larger than those caught in shallower water, three hooks per line were found sufficient. More hooks usually caused tangles, especially in strong currents. The hooks were usually spaced 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart on hook traces of about 12" in length and the sinker was 1 to 3 feet lower than the bottom hook of the rig. The Electric winch reels used were efficient. They were operated from a bank of twelve-volt batteries and had an amperage draw of thirty amps with a moderate load, and 20 amps running free. The reels will fish to a depth of 300 fathoms and the line recovery rate is approximately 55 fathoms per minute. Where the boats used are inboard-powered, and especially if diesel, the batteries can be kept charged by an efficient alternator or generator driven at the main engine which can be kept running during fishing operations. (This does not apply to direct drive jet units, where if the engine is kept running, even at anchor, it is necessary to handle the boat continuously). The use of electric reels becomes much more complicated where no source of inboard power is available as this entails either a separate charger unit aboard or difficult handling of large battery banks for charging ashore. Hand reels can be used for village-level fishing. The advantages of hand reels over handlining fully justify the expense of making or buying a simple hand reel. Some of the fishermen with the Project in Western Samoa preferred using hand lines when fishing depths up to 70 fathoms; over this depth all preferred using the reels. There is no necessity to use a wire line, monofilament line is in some respects superior to wire, but nylon line has one big disadvantage: if wound on to a reel under tension the nylon line builds up terrific pressure and can break the sideplates or spool unless these are made strong enough to withstand the pressure. In addition, it tends to jump the reel much more than does wire. Wire is three times more expensive than good quality monofilament nylon line; 2,000 ft. of wire costs A$140. Super Toto-woven nylon with monofilament can be used in place of wire. The largest percentage of fishing effort by far was made at night. Day trips were made but the catch never equalled or approached the weight that could be taken at night. In other parts of the tropical Pacific, day fishing can yield almost as good a catch as night fishing. It is certainly easier fishing during the day if adequate shelter from the sun is available on the fishing vessel. The depths fished ranged from 40 fathoms to 250 fathoms, the shallow depths being fished when a strong current was running and making fishing difficult or almost impossible in the deeper water. No fish were caught at depths exceeding 225 fathoms. The main species caught were taken in the following depths: 16

20 Etelis fthm. Ruvettus (oil fish) Epinephelidae (cod) G. serpens (snake mackerel) Aprion microlepis (rosy job) Lutjanus malabaricus (scarlet sea perch) All bottom fishing was carried out at anchor, drift fishing was not possible due to the steeply shelving bottom and rough ground. A total of approximately 75 boat days were lost due to mechanical failures. The Manulele was out of commission from April 4 to May 2 and August 19 to August 21; the Norman Kirk from May 16 to July 1. From the unnamed cape three miles to the east of Leuo Point the on Island of Savai i, where the Project fished, there are no offshore banks, the bottom dropping away very steeply. Until the bank off Falealupo is reached the 100 futhom-line is never more than half a mile offshore and along most of the coast it is closer to a quarter of a mile. The bank off Falealupo averages 70 to 80 fathoms from about half a mile offshore. It extends in a north westerly direction for four miles and averages a mile in width. The drop off is very steep, in places almost vertical. The Admiralty chart shows a line of soundings extending in an easterly direction three miles offshore from Cape Vailaoa. The Project boats could not obtain any soundings on the echo-sounders on or near this line. The sounders had an effective range of 480 fathoms and it therefore seems doubtful that this bank does in fact exist. Such a limited area of available fishing ground rules out any commercial fishing except at village level. Asau, where the Project was based, is situated on the north coast of Savai i Island, ten miles from the western point of Savai i, Cape Mulinuu. Although the prevailing wind during the months the Project was based at Asau should have been south-east, we did in fact experience fresh to strong north-eastwinds during the day. The wind at times eased off before dark, freshening again at daylight. It created an uncomfortable chop on the water, especially on the Falealupo bank. The N.E. wind restricted fishing and a considerable number of days were lost due to it. The seas off the south-west coast of the Island were frequently calm when strong N.E. winds off Asau prevented the boats from fishing. The boats could not take advantage of this as the Project did not have transport available to transport ice, fuel and the catch to and from Asau to Salailua Bay. 17

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22 APPENDIX III LIST OF BASIC FISHING EQUIPMENT FOR AN FAO 28 FT. FISHING VESSEL $A 2 Manual snapper winch reels 240 (or 2 electric snapper winch reels $590) 4 x 1000 ft. 3/64" stainless steel wire 230 (sufficient wire for reels to fish in depths to 200 fathoms) 1 No. 00 Hand Swager /64" Copper cable connectors 16 6 rubber snubbers 12 1 x 6 lb. tube 150 lb. test mono filament line 60 1 x 6 lb. tube 250 lb. test mono filament line No. 6 tuna circle hooks No. 7 tuna circle hooks No. 8 tuna circle hooks Kelux stainless steel Lockfast swivels ft. stainless steel 200 lb. test trace wire 18 Anchors Ropes sinkers 19