ABSTRACT
Under a community-based fisheries extension programme in Samoa, 44 coastal villages have developed their own village fisheries management plans. Each plan sets out the resource management and conservation undertakings of the community, and the servicing and technical support required from the govern ment fisheries division. Community undertakings range from enforcing laws banning destructive fishing methods to protecting critical habitats such as mangrove areas. An unexpectedly large number of villages (38) chose to estab lish small village fish reserves in part of their traditional fishing areas. Although by social necessity many of the community-owned reserves are small, their large number, often with small separating distances, forms a network of fish refuges. Such a network may maximize linking of larval sources and suitable settlement areas and provide the means by which adjacent fishing areas are eventually replenished with marine species through reproduction and migra tion. As the fish reserves are managed by communities which have a direct interest in their continuation and success, prospects for continuing compli ance and commitment appear high. Results confirm our belief that the responsible management of marine resources will be achieved only when fishing communities themselves accept it as their responsibility.
