The village of Matautu in Falealili district is a coastal community that depends much on its marine resources for livelihood. Our coastal to our nearshore marine area is the main fishing ground for subsistence and some artistinal fishers. The major concerns and problems that we are facing nowadays related to our coastal and marine resources include coral damage caused by cyclones and descructive fishing; decline in our fishing catches for both finfish and shellfish especially the giant clams and turbo; the sizes of fish and shellfish caught are usually small; descructive fishing methods used and over fishing.
The main purpose of this project is to improve status of inshore resources and sea food production by restocking the declining giant clams to conserve in our fish reserves. Also to ensure sustainable management and conservation of inshore resources by establishing a marine protected area and strenghtening Matautu Falealii Fisheries Management Plan and enforcement of Village bylaws.