Longtime fisherman Kirisome Seve has been plying his trade with passion for over two decades but his challenges today go beyond his fishing rod, rusty skiff-boat and home-made anchor.

His livelihood is being threatened by the increasing presence of larger fishing boats, who on an ordinary day can haul in double the amount of his catch in a week’s expedition.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the 59-year-old fisherman of Sasina spoke of the challenges he’s faced over the years and how the size of his catch has been dwindling in size over the years.

"The other larger fishing yachts bring in and catch a much larger amount of fish compared to the amount of fish the small alia-boat I currently operate catches per week," said Mr Seve.

"I've been using this skiff-boat for more than 20 years now, even though it's rusty and needs fixing in some parts, it is still able to go out to sea.”

And the growing fleet of larger fishing vessels have become his nemesis as they can travel further out to sea and catch more.

"We fish in the part of the ocean that's about 100 meters deep. The larger boats, however, fish in the much deeper ocean and they have long nets and better tools than us," he said.

Mr Seve says even the size of his catch has shrunk with the larger vessels getting the prized catch in terms of size.

He said today his boat catches middle-size fish while the tuna, marlin and albacore gets hauled in by the larger vessels. 

"My boat catches mullets, parrot fish, bonitos and other smaller fish. I remember about 20 years ago before there were many of these bigger fishing vessels, there was plenty of fish for everyone," he lamented.

And even bad weather can make a difference in a high stakes competition with fishermen in the larger boats according to Mr Seve.

“Those larger vessels can stay on the fish much longer and if there's bad weather or not-so-good fishing conditions, these larger boats fish on without any problems, whereas our vessels are forced to come back home because our skiff-boats cannot handle the waves when there is bad weather.”

Nevertheless Mr Seve is grateful that he is still able to catch some fish every week to support his children and grandchildren.

"However, I am still grateful and thank God that I am still able to catch some fish every week in order to support my children and grandchildren back in Sasina,” he said.

“I have a crew made up of myself and two other fishermen and the fish we catch also pay their salary. 

“Other than that I also have to think about fuel for the boat and food supply for when we're out in the sea during our weekly fishing trips which usually costs between $500 and $900 tala."

Regardless, the challenges continue and tomorrow will be another day for another fishing expedition, but Mr Seve is hopeful the new Government will assist small fishermen like him, whose livelihoods are under threat due to the rising number of large fishing vessels.