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This Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for International Waters of the Pacific Islands Region was initiated and developed by the thirteen Pacific island states participating in the work of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It represents a pioneering effort by our group of small island developing states (SIDS) to integrate our national and regional sustainable development priorities with shared global environmental concerns for protecting International Waters.

Turtles belong to the reptile family, the same family as lizards, geckoes and snakes. Like all reptiles, turtles have scaly, dry skin, but unlike their crocodile and snake relatives, turtles have no teeth. Turtles have a shell, called a carapace, that protects it from its enemies .

The Western Samoan Government (WSG) has approved and now awaits printing of the Fourth Five Year Plan 1980-84. The Plan, for the first timer contains a chapter (14) specifically on the environment, "Environmental Planning for Development", which tends to be more descriptive of problems than prescriptive of action to be taken on environmental issues. The WSG is possibly the sole island signatory to the draft "Convention for the Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific 1976" for which Western Samoa is the depository. The WSG is also in receipt (c.1978) of an inter-departmental recommendation on environmental policy.

The American Samoa Government (ASG) is now in receipt of the Economic Development Plan 1979-1984 (EDP). It anticipates receipt in the near future of a companion document, the Quality of Life Plan (QLP). The recently complied Coastal Zone Management^. (CZMP) has been authorized by the ASG with effect from 1 September 1980 but has yet to receive (tne anticipated) Federal endorsement. The EDP and the QLP together form the comprehensive Development Plan for American Samoa, while the CZMP is a Federally funded program complementary to the EDP and covering the whole terri tory.