A number of reports say that shellfish and fish have been over-fished and drastically declining in the lagoon and inshore reefs of Samoa for many years. Additionally, the marine environment is also under extreme pressure, principally from coastal developments (coastal and mangrove reclamation, seawall and road constructions etc.) and agriculture uses (erosion from poor land use, deforestation, heavy uses of agrochemicals etc.). The decline in fish stocks is of particular concern in coastal communities where subsistence catches of seafood provided traditional and valuable sources of protein. Despite concerns of declining stocks, government actions and national laws (i.e. Fisheries Act 1988, Fisheries Regulations 1998, etc.) to remedy the problem has never been successful. However, Fisheries Division and AUSAID support initiated a Fisheries Village Extension Programme in 1995 in an effort to further address the major problem of fisheries reduction. The programme is a community-based fisheries approach whereby each village accepting the extension program was encourage to analyse its fishing practices and develop a community owned plan with undertakings to introduce appropriate village laws and pursue other conservation measures. Reciprocally, the FD supported the development of optional sources of seafood. Through the supported programme, village communities decided on many different undertakings, ranging from enforcing laws banning destructive fishing methods to protecting part and critical part of their fishing ground (MPA). This report details the community extension process and current conservation and management strategies as well as benefits and constraints of MPAs. Through the supported programme, village communities decided on many different undertakings, ranging from enforcing laws banning destructive fishing methods to protecting part and critical part of their fishing ground (MPA). This report details the community extension process and current conservation and management strategies as well as benefits and constraints of MPAs.