COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a display of academic achievement, nearly 12 percent of Utah Tech University students earned Dean's List recognition for the Spring 2023 semester.
Specifically, 1,240 students were included on the Dean's List. Inclusion indicates students' strong commitment to their academic pursuits, as they must achieve a GPA of 3.5 to 3.89 for the Dean's List. Students are also required to complete a minimum of 15 credits.
Local students who earned Dean's List recognition at Utah Tech University for the Spring 2023 semester are Geraldine Ofisa , Merry Vaa and Nuuseni Faleatua.
Utah Tech University is a premier open-enrollment teaching institution that offers more than 250 academic programs at one of the lowest tuition costs in the Western United States. The University was built upon a rich tradition of determination and generosity that is still embraced by the campus community today. With the motto "active learning. active life."
Utah Tech provides personalized and engaged learning experiences that prepare students for rewarding careers and enriched lives. Outside of the classroom, students have the opportunity to enjoy the unparalleled opportunities for an active life that accompany UT's location in beautiful Southern Utah.
$4 MILLION HEALTH GRANT
Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is highlighting a federal funding notification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of about $4 million.
This discretionary grant of $3,961,917 for American Samoa Department of Health is aimed at strengthening infrastructure, workforce and related areas.
“Thank you to our health professionals working on ensuring good care is available to our people,” said Amata. “Thank you especially to Ben Sili and anyone else involved with this project. Congress makes appropriations available, but the work that goes into applying and qualifying for these grants is done locally. Health support is always among our most needed federal resources.”
The health services grant is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal agency within HHS. HHS is led by Secretary Xavier Becarra, and CDC is led by Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
“Thank you as always to HHS and CDC for supporting American Samoa as Governor Lemanu Mauga, Lt. Governor Talauega Ale, and Director Motusa Nua lead these efforts to receive grants and improve health.”
WPRFMC MEETING SLATED FOR AM SAMOA
The 195th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene in-person June 27-29, 2023, at the Rex Lee Auditorium, Pago Pago, American Samoa. Remote participation option will be available by web conference (Webex).
The Council will consider and may take action on American Samoa’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan — Bottomfish Management Unit Species (BMUS) Revision Amendment
The purpose of this proposed action is to refine the BMUS complex to reflect the current state of the bottomfish fishery in American Samoa. There is a need to revisit the BMUS to determine whether the current species composition of the complexes remain representative of the fisheries. This will allow the Council to determine if the BMUS in American Samoa are in need of conservation and management to support the sustainable management of the bottomfish fisheries in American Samoa.
At its 195th meeting, the Council will consider taking initial action on the American Samoa BMUS Revision Amendment and may select a preliminary preferred alternative. The Council will consider the following alternatives and review the impacts of the action on the components required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). These MSA components include the status determination criteria annual catch limits and accountability measures monitoring and bycatch, Essential Fish Habitat and fishing communities.
Under the No Action Alternative, the Council would not recommend or implement changes to the existing BMUS list in the American Samoa Fishery Ecosystem Plan. Management of the BMUS would continue to include annual specifications of annual catch limits and accountability measures, including for those species comprising the list that are not predominantly caught in federal watersand are not overfished or subject to overfishing.
Written public comments on final action items should be received by the Council’s executive director by 5 p.m. (HST), Thursday, June 22, 2023, by postal mail, fax or email.
The Webex link is https://tinyurl.com/195CouncilMtg (if prompted, enter event number: 2630 984 8417 password: CM195mtg). Specific information on joining the meeting, instructions for connecting to the Webex and providing oral public comments during the meeting will be posted on the Council website at: https://www.wpcouncil.org/event/195th-council-meeting/.
The 195th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene in-person June 27-29, 2023, at the Rex Lee Auditorium, Pago Pago, American Samoa. Remote participation option will be available by web conference (Webex).
The Council will consider and may take action on American Samoa’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan — Bottomfish Management Unit Species (BMUS) Revision Amendment
The purpose of this proposed action is to refine the BMUS complex to reflect the current state of the bottomfish fishery in American Samoa. There is a need to revisit the BMUS to determine whether the current species composition of the complexes remain representative of the fisheries. This will allow the Council to determine if the BMUS in American Samoa are in need of conservation and management to support the sustainable management of the bottomfish fisheries in American Samoa.
At its 195th meeting, the Council will consider taking initial action on the American Samoa BMUS Revision Amendment and may select a preliminary preferred alternative. The Council will consider the following alternatives and review the impacts of the action on the components required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). These MSA components include the status determination criteria annual catch limits and accountability measures monitoring and bycatch, Essential Fish Habitat and fishing communities.
Under the No Action Alternative, the Council would not recommend or implement changes to the existing BMUS list in the American Samoa Fishery Ecosystem Plan. Management of the BMUS would continue to include annual specifications of annual catch limits and accountability measures, including for those species comprising the list that are not predominantly caught in federal watersand are not overfished or subject to overfishing.
Written public comments on final action items should be received by the Council’s executive director by 5 p.m. (HST), Thursday, June 22, 2023, by postal mail, fax or email.
The Webex link is https://tinyurl.com/195CouncilMtg (if prompted, enter event number: 2630 984 8417 password: CM195mtg). Specific information on joining the meeting, instructions for connecting to the Webex and providing oral public comments during the meeting will be posted on the Council website at: https://www.wpcouncil.org/event/195th-council-meeting/.