Artesian fishing off the coast of Upolu and Savai’i is continuing to be an economic lifeline for Samoan families and businesses alike amid the steep decline in the country's economic fortunes. 

A father-of-three, Kolise Pauli Fesolai who is 51 years old was hard at work throwing his net off the coast of Upolu on Saturday morning, when he told the Samoa Observer that he primarily went fishing to put food on the table for his family. 

The Faleasiu resident told this newspaper that he doesn’t sell his catch and instead takes it home for his family’s Saturday dinner and Sunday’s toonai (family feast).

He said that he does not go fishing too often during the week and only goes out when there’s good weather.

“I am using a kili [cast net or throw net] to catch some fish and so far I have five,” he said.

In a previous interview with this newspaper, the Samoa Association Manufacturers and Exporters President, Tagaloa Eddie Wilson released data confirming that fish are a mainstay of Samoa's exports. 

He said that fresh fish was the country’s largest export by far with a total value of $50 million followed by nonu juice, which was valued at $10 million.

Data shows that fish exports peaked in August 2019 when fish exports reached some 7,493 tons.

The Central Bank of Samoa recently published a report titled "Foreign Trade and International Commodity Prices report for December 2020” that showed total export receipts rose by 33 per cent or $2 million to reach $8 million when compared to the previous month. The rise was primarily due to a 0.5 per cent or $2.1 million gain in domestically produced exports. 

The rise reflected increases are in export commodities such as fish, crude coconut oil, cigarettes and coconut cream. 

On the other hand, re-exports fell by 0.1 per cent or $0.16 million from the month prior. 

Total exports were 18.4 per cent (or $1.8 million) lower when compared to December 2019 which was well below its average gains of 13.8 per cent in the past 3 years and 10.3 per cent in the past five years. 

As a result, total export earnings in the first six months of 2020/21 amounted to $51.4 million, which were 28.1 per cent lower compared to the same period last year in-light of lower reductions in both domestically produced and re-export commodities.