A family in Vailoa who depend on fishing for their livelihood has expressed concern about the impact of the proposed Chinese-funded Vaiusu wharf project on marine life.

Patisepu Tuu and her four children depend on fishing in the Vaiusu Bay like other residents in the area and she fears the proposed project will be a threat to marine life including the large tract of mangroves

"There will be no more sea creatures if the mangroves are gone," she said in an interview with the Samoa Observer. “My advice is don’t do it, don't build a wharf, it will have a huge impact on the coast.”

Emphasising that the building of the new wharf is likely to impact many residents, she says she is worried about her children’s future. 

Mrs Tuu added that the construction work is also likely to introduce other marine species into the area, such as sharks which does not augur well for the community.

And while there has been some opposition to the proposed project, the mother of four is not optimistic as she says that even public opposition will not stop the project, as the Government will use its powers to go ahead. 

Environmentalist and former M.P. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster spoke of the significance of the Vaiusu Bay’s large tract of mangroves in an interview with this newspaper on Thursday.

He said the mangrove tract is one of the largest in Samoa and is a fish nursery and a refuge for marine life.

“Now if you damage that area, one of the biggest impacts is there will be no place for fish of north Upolu," Toeolesulusulu said. “So when there’s no place, no house for the fish to live in what happens? You don’t have fish."

The reliance of the villagers on fishing in the Vaiusu Bay and the income it generates for the families is also a cause for concern for Toeolesulusulu, who warned that the loss of the mangroves will have a dire effect on the people.

"The bigger impact is on the people, when you have a wharf, the proposed wharf that is being talked about, it’s not just the Vaiusu area,” he told the Samoa Observer. “The majority of the wharf will be at Fugalei and Vaimoso and Lepea.

"You go to Vaiusu Bay, it's so shallow you can see it at low tide."