Lusila Minoneti presenting her slides for the household results to the community of Aunu'u at the CCCAS hall. These were the results from the Household Survey that was conducted July of 2009, and this survey was interviewing each household in the village of Aunu'u and how they manage their marine resources, fishing methods they use when they go fishing, how many fishes they catch every time they go fishing and what are some management they would like to have to protect, preserve and conserve their marine resources

The youth were asking questions based on the presentation and also questions to gain knowledge about marine related issues that they see every day in the village of Fagasa. After the presentation Sione ask 5 questions based on the presentation like, What is a No-Take MPA?, What are some activities you can still do in the No-Take MPA?, Why are big fish better?, What is it called when fish move outside the No-Take MPA?, and a BONUS question: How many MPA' in Tutuila and name them. They also received prizes when they answer the question right; the prizes were posters and a Palolo DVD.

Group 1

Sione's Group presenting No-Take MPA Activity Results. This is the number 1 group during the activity because they were able to fish less. They were fishing enough fish for the number of their household, enough fish so bigger fish inside the MPA can reproduce and have more fish, bigger fish, and also families and the village of Fagasa can benefit from the SPILLOVER.

Group 3

Malia's Group during the MPA activity. They were allowed to fish outside the No-Take MPA area but not inside. There were three rounds, ten seconds each. After each round it is up to the group if they want to bring some fish inside the no-take area outside because that's how the SPILLOVER process works. Fish Spillover when there is not enough space in the MPA, some of the fish stay inside the no-take zone because those fish and invertebrates are Territorial, that means they rule that area in the ocean.

The Youth Group at CCCAS in the village of Fagasa. Thanks for the opportunity to conduct our No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA) Outreach to the youth group and the church. Also a big fa'amalo to the team from the National Park of American Samoa and also to Maria Vaofanua and Lusila Minoneti representatives from the Information Education Division in the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

Malo Le Galulue!

from left to right (Jacqueline Kozak, Fatima Sauafea-Leau, Dawn Chang, Maka'ala Ka'aumoana and Christine C. Costales)

They were the presenters on Friday, August 6 after Luncheon Presentation. The Honorable Togiola T.A. Tulafono, Governor of American Samoa was the presenter during the lunch break. Fatima was the first to present "To Build, Enhance and Promote Resource Conservation and Management Through a Participatory, Learning and Action (PLA) Approach". Dawn present "Culturally Appropriate Outreach in Support of the Hawaii Statewide Rodent Control Program", Maka'ala present "Community Resiliency and the Loss of Traditional Knowledge in the Face of Climate Change" and Christine present "Outreach and Public Education for Endangered Species and Watershed Restoration on The Island of Lanai."

from left to right (Charlene Afu, Fatima Sauafea-Leau, Risa Oram and Sione Lam Yuen Jr)

The 2010 Hawaii Conservation Conference was held at the Hawaii Convention Center from August 4-6, 2010. The theme for this year’s conference was Pacific Ecosystem Management & Restoration. Fatima Sauafea-Leau (NOAA Pacific Island Regional Office) presented on the third day of the conference at room: Ballroom A. Fatima presented about the Participatory Learning Action (PLA) Approach. PLA is a community approach that engages all sectors of a community. PLA is used in gathering information and sharing local knowledge using a diverse range of tools and activities. Some of the tools that she mentioned during her talk were Community Action Plan, Historical Profile, Resource Mapping and Identification of Problems, Cause, Effect, and Solutions. Sione Lam Yuen Jr (MPA Technician MPA Program attended the conference to learn and offer support to Fatima. Sione learned from the Hawaii Conservation Conference that people were sharing ideas, thoughts, techniques, and tools to protect marine resources. They had a shared desire to conserve, preserve and protect the marine resources and the environment for the future of our children and all people. People from Palau, New Zealand, American Samoa, Australia, and different parts of the United States participated. Sione also learned that there are also people from other islands in different countries that are concerned about their own marine resources and the environment because of the changes caused by global warming, human impacts such as pollution, human development and increase in population. Some people talked about preserving native species of marine resources and also native trees and plants that are in the forest. During her talk Fatima discussed how our Program (the MPA Program) used PLA in the village of Aunu’u. Sione was very happy to attend the first international conference of his life. He had fun and felt more motivated to learn about conserve traditional practices.

Maria Vaofanua, Fale Tuilagi, Kiso So'oto and Afa Uikirifi posting after the Government Leader and Village Mayor Workshop on Friday October 15, 2010 at the Equator Resteraunt in Tafuna. Malo Lava Le Galulue!

Maria Vaofanua another representative from the Information Education Division (IED) at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources helping out with the signing in of the mayors and also the activity during the Government Leaders and Village Mayor Workshop at the Equator in Tafuna. Special Thanks to Afa Uikirifi and Fale Tuilagi from the Community Based Fishery Management Program (CFMP), Fatima Sauafea-Leau from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Island Regional Office (NOAA PIRO), Alice Lawrence from the Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG), Kiso So'oto and Peter Eves from the Enforcement Division, and Maria Vaofanua and Lusila Minoneti from the Information Education Division. Thanks for all the help from the different divisions in the department, GRAG and NOAA PIRO.

Lusila Minoneti a representative from the Information Education Division at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources helping the her group with their concerns and questions about the activity. The activity was to design their own No-Take MPA in the villages that the mayors were divided into. Lusila and her group worked on the village of Leone on the western district. Mayors were had fun and gain more knowledge on the different Marine Protected Area's that American Samoa have.