American Samoa National Park Service’s Super Intended James Bacon also signs the agreement because the area that is going to be a no take zone is part of the national park.  Thanks for National Park Services with working collaboratively with the village of Fagasa and the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources to preserve and protects American Samoa's resources.

Lupefa'alele Tua the mayor of the village of Fagasa signing the agreement to establish a No-Take MPA in Fagasa.

 Atuatasi Talosaga a High Talking Chief that represented the village council of Fagasa signing the agreement.

Atuatasi Ieremia another High Talking Chief that represented the village of Fagasa signing the agreement.

Director of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources

Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga signing the agreement to establish a no take marine protected area in the village of Fagasa on October 29, 2013.  She mentioned that this is a milestone since her time here working with the department.  The village of Fagasa are willing to work together with the department on managing their marine resources for future generations and the people of American Samoa.

Water Samples analyze by Dr. Don Vargo at American Samoa Community College Land Grant

This is a photo that was taken under a microscope by Dr. Don Vargo at American Samoa Community College Land Grant.  Water samples have been sent off to Dr. Steve Morton, head of the Marine Biotoxins Program based in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Morton identified it as Prorocentrum micans.  

Red Tide Algae Bloom in Pago Pago Harbor

On October 17, 2013 this photo was taken from the FIFA Soccer Field in Pago Pago of an Algal Bloom. The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources collected water samples from within the harbor and outside the Fagaloa area for further research.  Studies have shown that a large bloom of this species usually occurs with the combination of high levels of phosphate.  This plankton or tiny marine algae is usually brown red at the beginning when it blooms followed by a black brown color at the final stage.

            

      Microscope photograph of the Ceratium furca dinoflagellate samples in Pago Pago Harbor

 DMWR staffs with their bright orange uniform cleaning up

Collecting Marine Debris Data

 Krishna and Sean sorting trash that was picked up from the marina on Friday.  They are seperating plastic bottles, glass bottles, bottle caps, foam cups, ciggarette butts, food rappers, plastic containers, plastic forks, spoon, knifes and plastic bags.  Sean input all this data in their database; how much trash that was picked up, how many pounds, what sort of trash collected and what can the department do to minimize trash from getting in the ocean like education and outreach to the village, put nets in the stream to capture all the debris, or enforce rules and regulation to families that live next to the stream and people that are littering.

DMWR staffs Coastweeks Clean Up Effort

Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga and staff cleaning up marina near the tool shoop in Malaloa on Friday September 20, 2013.  Approximately 50 dmwr staff participated to help out with this effort to keep Samoa clean.  Refigerators and wooden cabinets were removed from the marina and ASPA picked it up from the Pulu tree near the market place in Fagatogo.

DMWR Coastweeks Clean Up at Marina

On September 20, 2013, the department of marine and wildlife resources had their coastweeks clean up from the stream near the market place all the way to the marina behind the tool shop in Malaloa.  Peter Eves and Joshua Tuaumu scooping up floating debris from the marina.  All the government agencies did a good job of cleaning up their areas. Malo Le Galulue!

Crown of Thorns from the reef at Fagasa

On August 27, 2013 DMWR staffs removed 350 crown of thorns from the reef at Fagasa.  Alama Tua was the captian along with deck hand Krishna Tuifaiga and Sione Lam Yuen Jr., Joshua Tuaumu was the snorkeler, Tafito Aitaoto, Afa Uikirifi, Peter Taliva'a and Sean Felise were divers.  Representatives from the National Park were also there to assist with the effort.  The boys from the national park use a different method, rather than removing crown of thorns out of the water they injected crown of thorns with Sodium Bisulphate.