Once again congratulations to Savaia and its efforts. However Savaia is just one of the many success stories of the Fisheries Community-base Management Program, these include both Savaii and Upolu.

Anyways I am just suprise to read that above writing that i quote ".. The coral rehabilitation project in Savaia is an example of a successful community adaptation initiative currently supported by the UNDP/ GEF Small Grants Project enabling Savaia to implement its management plan for the reserve.."

First of all the success of the Savaia's fish reserve is the result of the total commitment of the villagers themselves. The program provided by the Fisheires which was initiated by the Fisheries Divsion has no funding or assistance from the UNDP/GEF as this funding is somehow implemented by the Enviroment Division in the Ministry of Natural Resource. Secondly is the technical assistance from the Fisheries staff which included periodic ecological assessments on the area, this produce the results that advice the village on better management of their fish reserve, and also the the periodic consultations and workshops which Savaia is mainly involved which has resulted in the village commiitte being able to monitor their own reserve and understand more on the basic science of the lifeforms in the reserve such as corals afish and invertebrates.

This UNDP/GEF funding is a news scheme that started I think from 2005 and Savaia propose for some assistance (through the Fisheries advice) and was approve last year. So this funding is somehow just a minor assistance that has not come into fruitation. Therefore I strongly think it is wrong to say that the coral rehabilitation in Savaia is a success story because it has not taken place and therefore no results. That is there is no coral restoration or rehabilitation implemented in Savaia unless they were referring to the natural recovery of the corals in the area.

Please do not tke credit for something that is yet to happen....

thank you

The marine reserve in Savaia has come to my attention after reading the orginal article, particularly the part where it says the clams have grown to 800 in numbers.

First of all, if i could recall correctly, the last clam count in Savaia was 800 or more during the Fisheries Division survey of this reserve for the Agriculture Show in Oct 2005. Clams counts continued to deplete because of natural predators like the snail (sisi) that affect them. However, if the numbers have gone up to 800, it could have been because of restocking with new juvenile clams as part of aquaculture activities of the Fisheries Division. It is not efficient to say that this number has come about because the clams have reproduced and exploded in numbers in that area, as this was the implication in the orginal article, because giant clams consume time and years (average at least 6-7yrs but mostly at 10yrs) before they are able to spawn or reproduce, and when they spawn, the eggs and larvae are planktonic therefore they are carried by water current to other areas where they would settle, it is impossible the larvae settled in the same area where they had been farmed. But i have to say that Savaia's giant clam reserve is one of the top farms in terms of security and maintenance because of the great effort and support from the villagers themselves.

So the fact that this number (800 clams) though in my opinioin is not an amazed improvement of the program, it is still owed to the villagers for their commitment and support during the eight years since their reserve was established. Fisheries Division took the initiative to work with communities and foreign aid agencies to better improve Samoa's marine resources for food security and development.Techincal assistance for community based programs is highly provided by Fisheries Division.

Lastly, there are many villages or communities in Samoa that are putting their efforts into supporting their reserves as well, including coral reef reserves and giant clam farms in collaboration with the Fisheries Division. So, quote "Savaia leads the way" cannot be said solely based on your observation tour and physical view of the area. Important facts should be understood and better to seek Fisheries Division for further information on these issues.

thank you