Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The final segment of the latest National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) condition report outlines that the Fa’a Samoa, the traditional Samoan way of life, provides the cultural context for all sanctuary activities and functions as the Sanctuary supports programs of education, outreach and research. 

This is from research conducted from 2007 to 2020 by the National Oceania Atmospheric Administration.

The first condition report, which assessed resources in Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, was published in 2007. This is the first condition report for the sanctuary since it was expanded a decade ago.

This condition report marks an updated and comprehensive description of the expanded National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

According to the report, NMSAS is tasked with interpreting, protecting, and preserving historic and cultural resources and incorporating traditional knowledge and stewardship into management.

 “Fa’a Samoa, the traditional Samoan way of life, provides the cultural context for all sanctuary activities and functions.

 “The chiefs who were engaged in the condition report process stated that culture is too important and complex to capture in a rating.

 “Therefore, there are no formal graded assessments for heritage and sense of place, as to do so would be considered inappropriate. Instead, the value of cultural heritage is presented in a narrative form, which includes the historical and cultural background of American Samoa and a summary of related resources and activities, such as community engagement and education and outreach events.

 “These events highlight the cultural traditions and values of family, village, ecosystem, and Fa’a Samoa. Heritage and sense of place should be understood as shared and strongly supported by NMSAS and by the community of American Samoa.”

The report also outlined the relationship between the Sanctuary and the village council is critical to the success of this partnership.

Since the designation of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 1986, local administration of the sanctuary has been conducted through a cooperative agreement with the government of American Samoa.

In 2002, a memorandum of agreement established a co-management relationship between the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the American Samoa Department of Commerce.

The co-development of a world-class visitor and learning facility known as the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center and further collaboration on several efforts with the American Samoa Department of Commerce increased the reach and presence of the newly expanded NMSAS.

In 2013, the government of American Samoa shifted co-management from the American Samoa Department of Commerce to the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

With this change, NMSAS continued to engage the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources on a regular basis and collaborated on opportunities that benefitted the territory, such as crown-of-thorns starfish removal and the Fagota mo Taeao Fishing Tournament.

The most significant management action since 2008 was the expansion of the sanctuary, which took place in 2012.

During this process, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries worked with stakeholders to evaluate issues affecting the sanctuary.

This process led to regulatory changes, including the establishment of a no-take area in Fagatele Bay and prohibitions on damaging activities like anchoring throughout the sanctuary.

Any exceptions to these regulations must be reviewed and permitted by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Action plans were also developed through this process to guide sanctuary management on topics including resource protection and enforcement, climate change, cultural heritage and community engagement, and ocean literacy. NMSAS has implemented many of the strategies listed in the action plans to improve sanctuary management and respond to pressures.

Education and outreach is another important ecosystem service that has benefitted a wide range of audiences, participants, partners, communities, and networks locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

 “Education and outreach efforts at NMSAS have consistently grown. “A significant success has been harnessing support and building capacity for local residents, including students, teachers, village communities, and partners. “Ensuring residents were the first to benefit from training, programs, activities, or other opportunities aimed at building pride in protecting sanctuary resources and enhancing skills has been essential.

 “Additionally, the sanctuary has collaborated with local, regional, national, and international partners in order to gain a wider reach, projecting the place, people, special resources, and ecosystems of NMSAS via films, publications, and expeditions.”

Science is an important ecosystem service for NMSAS as well, and activities such as in situ research, publications, science capacity, and partnerships have been increasing.

 “Sanctuary staff have successfully worked with partners to support research cruises for shallow coral reef ecosystem and deep-sea exploration, exploration of mesophotic systems, investigation of contaminants in Fagatele Bay, and installation of a buoy to monitor ocean acidification in Fagatele Bay.

 “In addition, college interns and fellows have supported science efforts, and outreach staff have incorporated science into ocean literacy efforts.

 “However, there are limitations on this service due to lack of vessel access and limited science staff capacity.”

EFFECTS ON THE BIOMASS

The report notes worldwide, there is heavy pressure on fish assemblages from fishery activities, and assessments have demonstrated declines in reef fish abundance across the Pacific Islands.

 “Except at Swains Island, reef fish populations across the territory are well below the biological potential for these systems.

 “Fishing may quickly reduce the population of commercial reef fish species in constrained bays like Fagatele Bay and remote sites like Rose Atoll with limited fish recruitment. Fishing is now prohibited in Fagatele Bay and limited in other units like Aunu’u and Muliāva. Commercial fisheries data specific to sanctuary areas were not available, therefore aggregate data for the territory were evaluated for this service.

 “These data indicate that the number of fishing vessels and fishers in the territory have declined over time.

 “In 2019, pelagic catches were the lowest in the past decade, and NOAA Fisheries determined that the bottomfish fishery was overfished and experiencing overfishing. Social surveys suggest that reef shark populations have improved, but octopus, giant clams, akule, and palolo have declined or remained the same.

 “Fishery independent data suggest that shallow reef fish biomass and giant clam abundance have declined.

 “Due to the change in fishing regulations and lack of sanctuary-specific data, the status of this service was undetermined.”

Subsistence harvest is important to the American Samoan community to ensure that families have food on the table, have a healthy diet, and maintain a connection to the past through traditional fishing methods.

 “Data indicate that most households have at least one member who fishes. The most common reasons for fishing are to feed family members and give to pastors and village leaders.

 “But while most continue to participate in subsistence harvesting, many residents believe reef fishing is worse now than when they were young, including for the traditional harvest of species such as palolo, giant clams (faisua), and bigeye scad (akule). Also, although people may still be engaged in subsistence harvest, the frequency of harvest has decreased.”

CLIMATE CHANGE

 “Coral reefs and mangroves help to reduce flooding and wave energy at the shoreline. “Rising sea level is of great concern, as it affects a large number of sites currently protected by these habitats.

 “In addition to global sea level rise, American Samoa has experienced rapid subsidence since a powerful 2009 earthquake doublet in the Tonga Trench.

 “The rate of subsidence in American Samoa is about 8–16 millimeters per year, making the island’s relative sea level rise rate about 5 times the global average.

 “This may make it difficult for coral reefs to maintain their capacity for coastal protection, as many species grow more slowly than this.

 “Coral bleaching events, storms, and vessel groundings have impaired this function in some sanctuary areas, particularly Aunu’u.

 “Although coastal protection is rated as fair in most sanctuary units, Muliāva is considered to be good/fair and Aunu’u is fair/poor.”