Map for Locations of Crown of Thorns Populations in American Samoa

This is the most updated map for August 2013 of the locations where crown of thorns are found that village people reported.  The bigger the orange star the more crown of thorns that DMWR staff removed.  The village of Aoa was reported 2 days ago that crown of thorns have been seen by kids snorkeling.

Crown of Thorns are a threat to the reef in American Samoa

Sean Felise and Peter Taliva'a are lifting up a cage with more than ten crown of thorns during a dive at Taema Bank on March 20, 2013.  Thanks to boat captain Herbie Umi for operating the boat.  Good Job for helping the reef of American Samoa DMWR.  Keep It Up!

Crown of Thorn Removal Effort

Tafito Aitaoto is removing a crown of thorn from the reef at Tafuna near the airport along with the assistant of Alice Lawrence, Peter Taliva'a, Sean Felise and Natosha Ripley.  Only five crown of thorns were caught during this dive on November 7, 2012.

Reefs Bleached by Crown of Thorns

This is a photo taken at Taema Bank on March 18, 2013 by Alice Lawrence.  The white patch is where the crown of thorn was at before it was removed by  Peter Taliva'a during a dive.  There were Fifteen crown of thorns that DMWR staffs removed during this dive.  This is an effort that the department is doing to help American Samoa's Reef.

Crown of Thorn Survey

Sean Felise and Tafito Aitaoto are measuring the width from the longest arm to the other in centimeter and counting the legs.  Three fishermens brought in 145 crown of thorns from Tafuna near the airport on August 22, 2013.  Fagamalo, Fagasa, Masausi, Lauli'i, Taema Bank, Nu'uuli, Airport, Maliu Mai and Fogama'a are villages or sites under the crown of thorns removal effort.

What is a Crown Of Thorn?

Crown Of Thorn (Acanthaster planci), is a large starfish that varies in color and can have 10 to 25 arms with the top body covered with venomous spikes.  They live on the reefs and lagoons and they are nocturnal feeders meaning they feed during night time.  Crown of Thorn feed on coral polyp and can kill coral colonies in short period of time.  Each female can produce up to 60 million eggs with a single spawning season.

Coral Reef Advisory Group Informational Booth

Derek Toloumu from CRAG is explaining students why coral reefs is important in the ocean and what can we do to manage and protect them.  He is also explaining the model on his left hand side which include a crown of thorn star fish, sea urchin, sea cucumber, coral reefs, fish and sponges.  Derek is also showing kids what a healthy ecosystem looks like without any human impacts.

Enforcement Division

Captain Hanipale Hanipale, Kiso So'oto, Sa'ia Lavata'i and Mundey Ah Ching from the DMWR Enforcement Division were responsible with the boat and jet ski rides during the fair.  They had a boat safety briefing with all the parents and students that want to ride the boat or jet ski before they take them  for a ride in the Pago Pago Harbor.

Key Reef Species Booth

Alama Tua and Domingo Ochavillo assisting Jacob with underwater diving equipment at the DMWR Awareness Fair on May 3rd 2013. Domingo is explaining Jacob that when he is underwater, he cannot use the snorkel but he can replace it with a regulator which he can use the air from the cylinder that is attached to the Boyancy Compensator Device (BCD).  Alama explain Jacob that a BCD can allow him to be a fish when he dive, it allows him to float up and down inside the ocean.

Marine Mammal Project with Wildlife Division

Anthony Sagapolutele and Elden Tagarino with their informational booth about marine mammals such as Whales, Turtles and Dolphins that are found in the ocean around American Samoa.  Alden is responsible with any marine mammal stranded and there were DMWR staffs that were trained to be in that Whale Stranded First Responders Team.  Elden also trained Anthony with turtle necropsy to determined how the sea turtle died near the beach of American Samoa.  Anthony Sagapolutele is now getting his B.A. in Marine Science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.