Sharks and rays of the Samoan archipelago: a review of their biological diversity, social and cultural values, and conservation status

Abstract

Both Samoa and American Samoa have relatively diverse shark and ray communities with management plans in place to protect chondrichthyans. These include participation in Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission initiatives, spatial protections, and community-based management programs. Implications. Current management approaches have the potential to provide significant protection to sharks and rays, however, their effectiveness may be hindered by a lack of proper enforcement, or compliance at the national and community levels.