Faletogo Taliloa explaining the boundaries of the Village Marine Protected Area (VMPA) and the No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the village of Fagamalo. The village of Fagamalo also agree to have this No-Take MPA zone closed for 10 years to see if it helps with protecting their marine resources from outsiders. People that come from other villages and fish out their marine resources without the village noticing.

Tepora T. Lavata'i, Afa Uikirifi and Fale Tuilagi represented the Community Based Fishery Management Program (CFMP) at the Fagamalo Outreach, and Lucy Jacob, Tafito Aitaoto and Sione Lam Yuen Jr represented the No-Take MPA. Afa and Tepora explained the rules and regulations that apply to Fagamalo's Village Marine Protected Area (VMPA) where the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) enforce. Lucy explained the difference between the No-Take MPA Program and the CFMP Program that the DMWR have to protect, conserve and preserve for the future generations of American Samoa.

Approximately 30 people participated the outreach on the 12th of December at the village of Fagamalo. The No-Take MPA and the CFMP from the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources had an outreach to discuss the boundaries of the No-Take MPA, how many recommended years they should have their no-take zone for and the regulations that the CFMP had to enforce rules and regulations in both the Village Marine Protected Area and the No-Take MPA in the village of Fagamalo.

Lupelele Elementary School Teachers received resources from the Information Education Division such as posters of fish, post cards, stickers, brochures and magnets. They can use these resources in Lupelele for their students and teachers can also post these posters on the wall to help them with their fish identification and also marine related topics.

Sione Lam Yuen Jr talking about the No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA) Program in the Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources. Sione talked about the different MPA's in American Samoa such as the National Marine Monument (Rose Atoll), National Marine Santuary (Fagatele), National Park (Fagasa & Vatia) these are MPA's under the Federal, and MPA's under the Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources such as the Community Based Fishery Management Program (CFMP) (Matu'u and Faganeanea) and also the No-Take MPA (Fagamalo). Students from Lupelele Elementary School also learn why it is important to protect marine resources, why bigger fish are better than small fish, the different habitats needed when design an MPA and the benefits of having MPA's in American Samoa and especially them "Future Generations".

Maria Vaofanua and Lusila Minoneti were talking about the different species of Sea Turtles that we have here in American Samoa such as Hawksbill Sea Turtle and the Green Sea Turtle, Coral Reefs, Threats to the reefs, possible solutions that can protect and prevent corals from being killed by these threats. Students from Lupelele Elementary School also learned about the different programs that the Information Education Division (IED) at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) have during the summer for children their age, such as the Le Tausagi summer camps where they learn about different marine related topics that the different government agencies offer for them.

Officers Hanipale and Mundy talking about rules and regulations that the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR)enforces to protect different marine and wildlife resources that we have here in American Samoa. Students also learned the different types of equipments the enforcement use on the patrol boat and what types of safety issues they should understand before getting on the patrol boat. Lupelele students also learn the different Life Jackets that the enforcement officers use on the boat when they are around the island of Tutuila Patrolling.

Approximately 95 fifth grade students from Lupelele Elementary School had a field trip to the Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources to learn about marine related topics. Students were divided in 3 groups; they rotated from the Enforcement Division that was assisted by officers Hanipale Hanipale and Mundy Ah Ching, Information Education Division that was assisted by Maria Vaofanua and Lusila Minoneti and finally the No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA) Program assisted by Sione Lam Yuen Jr.

A Boat ride back to Tutuila Island from Aunu'u Island after the Aunu'u PLA & Household Results Outreach. Malo Le Galulue! Lusila Minoneti, Lucy Jacob, Selaina Tuimavave, Sione Lam Yuen Jr, Kiso So'oto,




Herbie Umi, Siaifoi Fa'aumu, Alofa Tuaumu, Lainie Berry, Leslie Yen, Alice Lawrence, Tafito Aitaoto Taking Photos and Sonny Niue "The Transporter"

A member from the community of Aunu'u asking a question from the action plan that was put together by facilitators that conducted the PLA Workshop on September 2009. This Action Plan include Poor Management of the Taufusi (Wetland Area), Use of Village Reef, Spring Water, Pollution, Boat Transportation and ASPA Generator. This gentleman's concern was removing the ASPA generator; they didn't want to remove the ASPA generator but to relocate it to another area because that's the only way they get power supply. One of the youth during the PLA workshop said if the ASPA can remove the generator because the generator is too close to the Aunu'u Elementary School. It's causing air pollution and also to keep the generator clean.

Lainie Berry, Pulemagafa Siaifoi Fa'aumu and Leslie Yen presenting their Wildlife presentation to the community of Aunu'u. Their presentation was about the wildlife resources that the village of Aunu'u have. They mentioned in their presentation the benefits of having the wetland on Aunu'u, some threats that affects the wetland, Gray Duck (Toloa), Pacific Golden Plover (Tuli), Purple Swamphen (Manuali'i), Pacific Reef Heron (Matu'u), the different mangrove that grows in the wetland at Aunu'u Island like the Puzzlenut (Le'ile'i), Oriental Mangrove (Togosaina) and the Red Mangrove (Togomumu).

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.

Those are the people who work for the No-Take MPA program at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. From left to right (Tafito Aitaoto, Lucy Jacob and Sione Lam Yuen Jr). That is their new uniform that they wore at the Government Leaders and Village Mayor Workshop that was held at the Equator in Tafuna. 47 mayors participated the workshop and they enjoyed it. There were presentations, activity and discussion sessions after the presentations.

Mayors were divided into 6 groups to design their own No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA). Mayor Vaiesea Falaula Silivelio from the village of Tula and his group was designing their No-Take in his village. They had their MPA behind the NOAA weather station at the tip of the village of Tula. They had 4 reasons why they chose this area of the village to establish their MPA; 1) hardly anybody visit the area, 2) a lot of marine resources, 3) it has all 3 habitats for fishes: nursing grounds, feeding grounds, and spawning grounds and 4) healthy coral reefs. This MPA covers 3 miles from the coastline to the deep waters, and the group dicided that you can tell there is a No-Take MPA there because they are going to set buoy's 50ft from each other to mark the boundaries of the MPA.

The village of Aua's Mayor Fotuonuutaua Toma Anetere'a presenting on how a No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA) would help to protect marine resources that they have in the village of Aua if established. Their group also presented how this MPA can keep outsiders from fishing in their village. Anetere'a think that this workshop really helped his group to think of ways that they can use to protect marine resources for the future of their villages. They have fun during the workshop on Friday, Malo Lava Le Galulue!

Summary Results from Evaluation:

97% said the presentations were clear and they were able to understand them (all except 1), 69% favorite topic was MPA talk; 34% liked Coral Reef talk; 17% preferred Climate Change talk and 28% like the activity, 97% thought the presenters were knowledgeable, 93% enjoyed the opportunity and would like to have more similar ones (2 people said no), 86% said fishing is a popular activity in their village (3 people said no), and 59% said they think their village would consider establishing an MPA; 24% (7 mayors) did not know and 7% (2 mayors) said no (Fogagogo and Tafuna).

Kiso So'oto a representative from the enforcement division in the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources lecturing about boat safety during the Le Tausagi camp in Ta'u, Manu'a. Since there are three islands of Manu'a, people are using motor boats called Alias to travel in between those three islands, they are Ofu, Olosega, and Ta'u which consist of three villages. Kids at the camp can educate and share their knowledge with their families when they are on a boat traveling.

Kids from Ta'u, Manu'a are writing their wishes on the wish banner that we had during the camp. That is Derek Toloumu from the Department of Commerce under the Coral Reef Advisory Group, with the green Le Tausagi shirt assisting the kids. One girl wrote that she want to her village stores use paper bags for grocery rather than plastic. Derek asked her why she wrote that wish and she said that Sea Turtles it's her favorite animal in the ocean and she also learned from the camp that jelly fish is a diet for sea turtles. She learned that a lot of sea turtles die from eating plastic bag by accident, sea turtles are mistaken that those plastic bags floating in the water are jelly fishes.

Kids took a field trip to the Department of Marine & Wildlife Resource office in fagatogo. The enforcement division presented on boat safety before they took the kids on a boat ride and also Sione from the No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA) program presented his presentation and activity so the kids can rotate from the boat ride to the conference room. After that field trip everybody went back to Utulei beach for their award ceremony.

During the water activity at the Le Tausagi camp that we had in Utulei beach on the 13-15 of July 2010. Kids were divided into two groups; the snorkeling and kayaking. Teachers that participated the Le Tausagi teacher workshop and junior counselor that participated the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources summer course help to assist kids in the water. Everybody had fun during the water activities because they were talking about it during our dinner time.

Teachers are divided into their groups so they can start writing their lesson plans based on the three themes of the workshop. It's up to them if they want to write their lesson plans based on coral reefs and fisheries management that was presented by Alice Lawrence, climate change that was presented by Carolyn Doherty or water quality presented by Phil Wiles. They can use those topics and activities for each topics in their classrooms, when they have lessons based on those topics. Teachers also received resources like posters, Cd's, DVDs, brochures, and a list of contacts of people that work with different agencies that are working together in the Le Tausagi group so that if they need help on marine science, forestry, water quality, and climate change or also field trips, they can contact these people for help.

The groups were separated into three themes and they were Water Quality, Climate Change and Coral Reefs and Fisheries Management. They were also rotated in every hour and thirty minutes to different themes. This is the climate change group and they are playing the no-take mpa activity. Sione Lam Yuen finished presenting on no-take mpa's and their benefits to the community. They also learned that there is a connection between the three themes climate change, water quality and coral reefs and fisheries management. I want to thank Alice Lawrence, Derek Toloumu and Travor Kaitu'u for helping me with my activity.

Tafito Aitaoto explaining the evaluation form

This is after the presentation but before the activity. Everybody participated in filling out an evaluation form that was intended to measure the effectiveness of the outreach conducted. The information from the evaluations will aid in refining the methodoligies employed in carrying out the workshop.

Alice Lawrence group during the activity

This is group 3 during the activity. They are deciding who will be the first fisherman. This activity is for the youth to gain more knowledge about the No-Take MPA program. Like the benefits that they can get if they have an MPA, what will happen if they protect the fish inside, what if they overfish outside of the MPA and also what can they do to help the MPA become a better place for fish and invertebrates that are in Fagasa's Ocean.

Catholic Church Youth at Fagasa

This is Ioane Afoa and Maria Afoa's youth group for the Catholic Church at the village of Fagasa. Approximately 30+ individuals participated the outreach and the youth enjoyed learning about the No-Take MPA program. They really like the idea of having a No-Take MPA to protect their marine resources, they also like the idea that they can still swim and snorkel in the No-Take MPA, and they also like the program because they can still continue fishing, like how our ancestors provide food for their families in the past. One of the kid said that she would like to continue eating fish and chips in the future, that why she like the No-Take Program because it will serve as an egg bank so the fish can still continue reproducing and have more eggs, the more eggs they lay the more fish our family can eat.

Presenting on No-Take MPA

Mr. Over Weight Lover (OWL) is presenting why the bigger fish is important than the smaller fish. Why the big fish is important than the small fish is because the big fish produce 2-3 times more eggs then the small fish, reproduce 4-5 times a year, better quality of fish and also has stronger eggs. This is very important for the village people to understand when the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources establish an MPA in the village because a No-Take MPA means no more fishing so the fish can multiply in numbers and also in biomass so the village and families can get benefit.

Tafito and Sione after snorkeling at Airport Lagoon

This photos was taken after snorkeling with Lucy and Tafito at the airport lagoon. It was very interesting because other people saw Sharks and Eagle Rays but we didn't. We were there to practice our Fish ID because it is a very important task for us if we establish our MPA''s. We have to monitor our MPA's and monitoring includes fish id and counting invertebrates that are in our transects that we are going to mark in the MPA. We should be able to identify the kind of fish and inverts that we are protecting for each MPA's for villages.

Sione Lam Yuen snorkeling to practice fish identification at Airport Lagoon in Tafuna



In order for Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) employee's to monitor Marine Protected Area (MPA), they should learn how to identify different species of fish that are popular in American Samoa. So Sione is snorkleing to practice and learned his fish identification.

This was the classroom that was schedual for the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. The MPA program, Wildlife, Education, and Enforcement division were letting students of Polytech know that helping saving the Coastal and Marine Enviroment is important because of the culture and also for future generations as well. Good Job Kiso So'oto, Saifoi Fa'aumu, Hanipale Hanipale, Malia Vaofanua and Sione Lam Yuen Jr.

Malo le galulue!

These are members from the village of Fagamalo that participated in the outreach. They participated because they want to learn and understand the difference between the CFMP MPA and the No-Take MPA. They also want to know the boundaries and the benefits they get when the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources establish the No-Take MPA. Thanks to the community of Fagamalo for accepting the program especially Faletogo Taliloa which is the High Talking Chief of the village for his guest house for the event.

Group 2: for fieldwork at the village of Futiga

Group 2 is working on strategies to gather information from the village of Futiga. So they can use it in the process of Planning for Climate Change in American Samoa. The asset's that they are discussing might be different from the villagers perspective of what's important in their livelihood.

Collectong data from the village of Vatia's CFMP VMPA

We were having a break from our first 5 25 meters transect on the west of the village of Vatia's MPA. That is the quadrat we used to take photos from every 1 meter along our 5 25 meter transects. Peter and Fale were the first one to lay our 5 25 meters tapes, and Tepora and Sione would count fish and inverts. Joshua was using the quadrac to record substrate cover every meter. We also set 5 25 meters on the east where CFMP have another transect in the VMPA, for more data to help us with our data entry and familiarizing with a software where you can count the different corals, algae's, and inverts.

Reverend Samuelu Tuila'epa explaining his group what they are going to do on designing their action plan to protect marine resources they have in the village of Aunu'u.

These are the facilitators that participated during the PLA workshop in Aunu'u. NOAA PIRO and DMWR Staff. Alan Everson (top left) is the Coral Program Coordinator for NOAA PIRO who funded the event. Fatima Sauafea-Leau (front, 2nd from right) led the event. Malo le galulue!

Selaina and Champion's group

Group 3 is deciding what to do and Carl is pointing to his son where to fish at. They are trying to figure out a strategy to manage their MPA so they can have enough fish for everybody for the future. Good job everybody!

Lucy and Sione's group

Group 1 after working together to manage their own Marine Protected Area (MPA) during the activity after the no-take MPA presentation. This group learned a lot about managing and maintaining the MPA if they have one at the village of Fagasa.

Lusila and Malia's group during MPA activity at Fagasa Assembly of God

Group 2 are working on MPA activity. Shawn is fishing outside the MPA and other members of the group is counting the fishes inside and outside, so they can manage how much their catch for the day is and what's left for another day.

Reverend Filipo Tuigamala and Otila Tuigamala

Thanks for accepting our invitation from the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, for the MPA program to present on no-take MPA's and their benefits to the families, villages, and community.

Lucy presented to ASCC students about MPAs. Each student was asked to design a hypothetical MPA including the regulations and size etc. Here you can see the students presented their MPAs to the rest of the class.