Waitt commits $2.5M to help Samoa protect its marine waters, boost resilience, restore fisheries

The Waitt Foundation has announced a $2.5 million commitment to the Government of Samoa to implement a Marine Spatial Plan protecting 30% of its 120,000-square-kilometer of marine territorial waters. The grant, part of a broader collaboration with Conservation International and the Waitt Institute, funds monitoring, enforcement, and capacity building. The plan establishes nine marine protected areas spanning 36,000 square kilometers, aiming to restore fisheries, boost food security, and strengthen climate resilience. The five-year initiative targets long-term economic and environmental sustainability.