Faletogo Taliloa representative from Fagamalo signing the Agreement

Faletogo Taliloa and wife were representative from the village of Fagamalo that participated for the signing of the official agreement that Fagamalo is under the No-Take MPA Program at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

Faipea Taliloa Mayor of Fagamalo Signing the Agreement

On September 29, 2011 the mayor of the village of Fagamalo Faipea Taliloa, Faletogo Taliloa and Ufagafa Ray Tulafono sign the official agreement that Fagamalo is under the No-Take Marine Protected Area Program. This event was held at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources conference room. Lucy Jacob the leader of the No-Take Program at the DMWR was there to witness the signing of the agreement.

The Secretary of Samoan Affairs was in attendance along with Directors and Acting Directors of the National Parks Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, ASCC Landgrant, the Samoan Studies Institute and DMWR. There were around forty other members of the audience made up of representatives from the different resource management agencies and ASCC.

Students from the Samoan Studies at ASCC

Members of the Samoan Studies from American Samoa Community College during the "Tatou Aleaga Fa'atasi" Drama Event along with the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. Representatives from ASCC Samoan Studies who performed a drama which was a representation of a Village Council meeting in which DMWR would present its Marine Protected Area Program to the council. Student did a good job acting out a scenario where they talked about preserving, conserving, and protecting marine resources for the future.

One of the scene for the new infomercial

This infomercial was taken at the village of Fagamalo and these are some of the cast acting out a village setting. Two fishermen's got back from fishing with their catch and the village waited for them so they had a gathering to thank the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources for benefits that they are getting from this Marine Protected Area that they have in their village to protect the Marine Resources that they have for village people and the future generations of the village. Thanks to Rita Hnkin, Tee Jay Letalie, Ioelu Seve, Alama Tua, Caroline Stowers, Mika Letuane, Fiaali'i Tafeamali'i, Poasa Tofaeono, Honcho Taifane, Ekueta Schuster, Joe Iosua, Tafito Aitaoto, Sione Lam Yuen Jr and the camera man Fred Ahoia for making this infomercial possible. Good Job everyone!!!!

ASCC Land Grant Forestry Field Trip

at Taputimu Tree Plot

Pepe Misa explaining kids why Forest is one of the most important ecosystem for living things that live in it; such as Birds, Insects, and Toads. He also explain why plants and trees are important; such as source of oxygen, habitats for animals and the root system helps to hold the soil from eroding after heavy rain.

Teachers Water Activities

Jim, Seanette and Travor getting ready for their snorkel trip at Utulei Beach with Alice Lawrence. Teachers that attended the teacher workshop were divided into two groups; snorkel group and water safety group. The first day of the workshop was basically teacher learning about four themes; Fisheries (DMWR and GRAG), Climate Change (DOC), Water Quality (ASEPA), and Forestry (ASCC Land Grant). The second day was a field day for them to use snorkels and learning about water safety thanks to Zero I'aulualo for assisting teachers.

MPA Activity with Alice, Derek and Sione

Teachers from public and private schools in American Samoa during the Teacher Workshop on the first day which is the 29 of June 2011. The cereal on the table indicates fish in the ocean, straws that are in the mouths indicates a spear use for fishing and the green cup indicates baskets for them to put their fish inside after catching them. This activity basically explain the teachers that Marine Protected Area is a practice use to protect marine resources that American Samoa have for future generations to come.

Fish Anatomy Activity

Selaina Tuimavave and her class were talking about the different external anatomy of the fish, and the internal anatomy of the fish. Kids learned that the air bladder provides buoyancy to the fish to float upward in the water when the bladder is inflated with air and the fish can float downward in the water when the bladder is deflated.

2nd Day of Fishing Derby

Afa Uikirifi helping a kid with the rod and reel during the 2nd day of the fishing derby. Kids from Ofu and Olosega were having fun at the 2011 Enviro Discoveries Summer Camps. The kids caught groupers, triggerfish, trumpetfish, flounders, surgeonfish and mullets.