Kiso, Ledwina and Sam presenting on Enforcement Division

Kiso and Ledwina along with their intern Sam presenting on the Enforcement Division here at DMWR to students from Pava'ia'i Elementary. They explained the types of fishing that are legal and fishing that are illegal. The rules and regulations that DMWR Enforcement have based on the marine and wildlife that is around American Samoa.

Alden Tagarino presenting on Marine Mammals

Alden is presenting on his field which is dealing with Turtles, Whales and Dolphins. Alden also work with DMWR staff during a dolphin or a whale stranded. DMWR had whale stranded in 2010 and 2011 at Matu'u and Faganeanea, and Alden and some people from off-island trained DMWR staff to activate a group of people when there is a whale stranded on the island. Students were amazed when Alden showed them the types of Whales, Sharks, Dolphins and Turtles that are found here in American Samoa.

Tee Jay, Tasha and Sa'olotoga presenting on the Bio sampling Project

Tee Jay and Sa'olotoga along with their intern Tasha are actually showing students on a live microscope which is connected to a television how to dissect a fish to collect otolith and gonads to determine the fish age and life history of a fish.

Honcho, Lusila and Sione are presenting on invertebrates

Pava'ia'i Elementary School 5th graders theme on that day of their field trip was Invertebrates in the Ocean. So Honcho Taifane presented on Invertebrates and Vertebrates, Lusila presented on the different programs that the Education Division at DMWR have and Sione presented on the two different MPA programs that DMWR have.

Alama Tua presenting about diving equipment

Students from Pava'ia'i Elementary School learn that DMWR staff uses diving equipment to submerge underwater to collect data, for fish, algae and coral identification. Alama also talked about basic swimming and safety which is what you need to learn before going out to the water. He also explained snorkel, mask, bcd, regulator, and diving signs you can apply when underwater with your buddy.

Ekueta Schuster presenting on underwater equipment's

Ekueta is the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources dive shop operator, and he is presenting one of the coolest underwater vehicles DMWR have. Students from Pava'ia'i enjoyed their visit to DMWR because they learn about other programs and other equipment's we have to help staff collect data, dive and supp merge underwater.

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.

Coral Polyp feeding activity

Sione Lam Yuen having a coral polyp feeding activity with Ofu and Olosega kids. Sione is teaching them that coral can feed during daytime by using the Zooxanthellae that uses sunlight for food and energy source; same process that plants use Photosynthesis. At nighttime the coral polyp uses tentacles to get food from the current in the ocean. So this activity is basically the coral polyp feeding at nighttime, Sione is the current that is carrying food which is cereal, and the students are polyps that are waiting for zooplanktons. Zooplanktons are microscopic animals that are food to living things such as coral polyps, Baleen Whales and other marine organisms.

Rod and Reels for Fishing Derby

Shey Auelua posing with the Rod and Reels that he put together with the help from Alice Lawrence, Afa Uikirifi, Lusila Minoneti and Sione Lam Yuen Jr. Shey and Afa were responsible with the Fishing Derby during the Ofu, Manu'a Enviro Discoveries Summer Camp.

External Anatomy of Fish Song

Sione Lam Yuen is singing a song based on the external anatomy of a fish along with the assistant by Maria Vaofanua. It goes like; Dorsal, Pectoral, Pelvic, Caudal, Pelvic, Caudal, Dorsal, Pectoral, Pelvic, Caudal, Pelvic, Caudal, Lateral Line, Operculums and Gills, Dorsal, Pectoral, Pelvic, Caudal, Pelvic, Caudal, and don't forget the Anal Fin.

Word of God Outreach at Ottoville Tafuna

Lusila Minoneti talking to the first group of kids about the different programs that are in the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) like, the Enviro Discoveries Summer Camps here in Tutuila and Manu'a every summer, DMWR Summer Course, Le Tausagi Teacher Workshop, and the Fishing and Boating. Malia Vaofanua talked about Coral Reefs, why reefs are important and some benefits that human get from reefs. Sione Lam Yuen Jr talked about the MPA Program that DMWR have to protect these marine resources that American Samoa have in the south pacific ocean.

Crown Of Thorns (Acanthaster planci) outbreak back in Lalomanu Aleipata on the reefs. This is a photo of a Crown of Thorn that was washed up in the beach with a piece of a branching coral (Staghorn).

Tracy and Derek on the deck of the new Litia Sini Beach Resort Building at Lalomanu Aleipata (LA). Thanks to Litia, Salu, Pugou and the family for everything that happened on July 4th weekend.

Derek and Sale at Lalomanu Aleipata (LA) in the front of Litia Sini Beach Resort. One of the best photo during the trip to Apia on July 4th weekend 2011. Po 'o a fo'i mea lae kalagoa ai sole!

Tai and Sale having a meeting with the ASTCA Survey Crew on 07/02/2011 Saturday morning. The boys will remember this trip for the rest of their lives. Malo lava le galulue! Aua ge'i galo se TRIPOD a se isi pe'a koe fo'i mai i Amerika Samoa.Lol

Group photo taken with Misili Fai'ai the Mayor of the village of Olosega Manu'a. Thanks to Sau Levao a representative working for the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources at Ta'u Manu'a and also to Carlo Caruso a representative from the National Park of American Samoa in Ofu for helping with the MPA Workshop for Ofu and Olosega.

Tafito Aitaoto, Lusila Minoneti and their recorder Kiso So'oto was assisting the Men's Group at the village of Ofu on the first day. The Men's Group came up with some threats to the marine environment such as; Technology. They mentioned that back in the days fishermen used dry coconut leaves (Sulu Aulama) as a flash light, but they mentioned that people can fish for 10 hours using the flash light, so people are overfishing. But back then fishermen only fish for 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the dry coconut leaves or Sulu Aulama Light.

Selaina Tuimavave and Tepora Toliniu was assisting the women's group during the first day of the workshop. During the Historical Profile Activity women's from the village of Ofu mentioned some of the threats that they saw 10-20 years before that can affect the marine environment. They don't see some of the threats now days like people using Illegal Fishing methods such as Dynamite and Ava Niukini. Some other threats they mentioned were Sand Mining, Pollution (Trash), Natural Disasters and Oil Spill from boats and vessels that come to Ofu.

Maria Vaofanua and Lidwina Allen assisting the children from the village of Ofu Manu'a during the MPA Workshop that was held at Pita Ili's quest house. They were discussing threats to the Marine Environment at the village of Ofu. The community of Ofu was divided into 3 groups; Men's, Women's and the Youth, so Sione Lam Yuen Jr was the facilitator, Maria was assisting and Lidwina Allen was the recorder. This is the second day of the workshop and the first day we talked about the different Marine Resources that are found in the ocean of the village of Ofu with the Youth.

There were three main goals to the community representatives meeting on Day 4. First to discuss some of the lessons learned during the activities of the previous days. Secondly, to identify a strategy to implement the information gathered from the exchange in order to improve their own respective VMPA programs in each of their village and finally to provide and evaluation of the trip to help coordinate and plan future exchange visits. As a result of this meeting, it was clear from the group that government and village communities need to collaborate and communicate more in order to provide consistency and transparency in VMPA management activities. Both of these managing entities cannot be independent while working to implement VMPA's.

The third day was spent with MNRE officials and their MPA communities. The group traveled to Aleipata district where Vailoa village welcomed the AS group during the third traditional ava ceremony of the trip. Aleipata district was the area of Western Samoa most affected by the tsunami in September 2009. Despite the massive devastation, there were signs of complete and near complete rebuilding of communities along the Aleipata coast. After the ava ceremony by Vailoa village, they hosted breakfast for the participants before participating in the day's information sharing with communities from the Aleipata and Safata districts.

At the end discussion session, Deputy Director of DMWR Fuafuaimealelei Tuaumu briefed the Falealili community on the Community-based Fishery Management Program (CFMP) in American Samoa. He explained the similarities and differences between CFMP and their existing programs in Falealili. He also elaborated on the importance of incentive programs such as the re-stocking of giant clams that situation in Apia where the giant clams from other Pacific islands like Fiji and Tonga. Tuaumu also reiterated that in the past when the American Samoa hatchery was in full operation. AS donated clams to Apia for this very purpose to provide MPA villages with clams to re-stock their reef area.

Upon arrival in Apia, the American Samoa group was greeted by MAFF, CEO, MNRE, ACEO and their staff during a ava ceremony held at the Fisheries conference room. During the ceremony government leaders were introduced from each of the ministries. After the ceremony, the government presented presentations on the different community-based MPA programs conducted by both ministries and how they differ. This provide the participants with background information about each MPA program and how they are facilitated by each of the respective government agencies.

Tafito Aitaoto from the No-Take Marine Protected Area Program at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources was also a judge during the Island Wide Science Fair High School Level. He judge 7 of the Marine Science Projects from various High Schools. Judges judge the science projects first without the students, afterwards they judge the projects with the students so the students can demonstrate what their science projects is about.

Maria Vaofanua from the Information Education Division at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources was also a judge at the Island Wide Science Fair Elementary Level at Kanana Fou Gymnasium. She was judging a student from Midkiff Elementary School, and she did a good job explaining and demonstrating her science fair.

Selaina Tuimavave a representative from the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources judging a student from Lauli'i Elementary School during the Island Wide Science Fair for Elementary Level. Her Teacher, Friends and Family did a good job helping her with her science project this year.

Fale Tuilagi, Tepora Toliniu, Afa Uikirifi and students from Samoana talking about the Community Based Fisheries Management Program (CFMP) in the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources together with the No-Take Marine Protected Area Program. They are talking about the different process the village have to go through to have a Marine Protected Area. They also discuss the outreach programs they are doing out in the youth groups, schools, churches and villages. Rules and Regulations were also discuss during the booth display for students from Samoana and Poly Tech.

Lucy Jacob and students from Poly Tech High School talking about the No-Take Marine Protected Area during the Youth Summit at Lee Auditorium on Saturday March 15, 2011. Students from Poly Tech High School and Samoana High School were floating around the booths before the Questions, Answers and Prices. Students from these school learn that it is very important to protect, conserve and have a sustainable Resources both in the Marine and at the Wildlife. It's also important to have a clean environment because people from off-island can have a good perspective of people from the Pacific.

Students, Parents and Teachers from Nu'uuli Poly Tech attended the Youth Summit at the Lee Auditorium on Saturday March 15, 2011. They received a lot of prices from the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council from Hawaii. Prices were Cooler Bags, Snorkel and Mask sets, Rod and Reels, Testing Water Quality Kit and GPS. Students from Poly Tech enjoyed the booths that were set by the Marine Protected Area Programs from the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

Students, Parents and Teachers from Samoana High School attending the Youth Summit that was hosted by the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council from Hawaii. Students had a great time at the Lee Auditorium because there were booths from the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), the Bio-Sampling Project with Domingo Ochavillo at DMWR, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), and Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS). There were also prices for students after the presentations, lunch and booths that day.

On January 27 2011 Lucy Jacob from the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Turner Pittain from the Department of Commerce, Pepe from the American Samoa Community College Land Grant and Joseph Iosua from KSBS FM 92.1 volunteering to help out during the Leone High School Climate Change Outreach. Students from Leone High had fun learning about the difference between climate change and global warming and also the difference between climate and weather.

On the 20th of January 2011 Daryl Nu'usolia from the Department of Commerce, Tafito Aitaoto and Sione Lam Yuen Jr from the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources conducted a Climate Change outreach at Aua Elementary School. This outreach is educating different ages from Elementary School's and High School's on Climate Change. There's a lot of ways we can take aim in Climate Change like using the 3R's; Reuse, Reduce and Recycle, also we can stop using plastic bags that can kill corals and also sea turtles and other marine organisms.

Burt Fuiava showing off his Scuba Dive Skills.















Sione Lam Yuen having fun underwater during the fish sizes activity.











Ching Wei getting tired after 3 dives. Se Oso Le Mea! ChoooooooooooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooooooooo.










Sinifa Annandale on Kayak having fun because he pass his QUEST Training already.

Domingo Ochivillo during his talk on Key Reef Species and Belt Transect at the American Samoa QUEST Training at Nu'uuli. Domingo also came to the training the next day to practice how to do Belt Transect in the water, so Tafito Aitaoto, Sione Lam Yuen Jr, Tasha Fuiava and Junior Fuimaono get an experience how to monitor a protected area by using this method.

Francis Leiato, Sione Lam Yuen Jr and Junior Fuimaono along with their assigned leader Ephraim Temple practicing Rugosity on our first 25m transect.

Tasha Fuiava and Tafito Aitaoto along with their assigned leaders Sinifa Annandale and Ching Wei practicing Rugosity on our first 25m transect.

Burt Fuiava demonstrating how to use Rugosity to measure the amount of habitat available for marine animals to live in. Rugosity is a measure of complexity, rugosity is presumed to be an indicator of the amount of available habitat available for colonization by benthic organisms (those attached to the seafloor), and shelter area for mobile organisms. After Burt's demonstration we went in the water and practice how to use this monitoring method at our three 25m transects that Ephraim, Senifa and Ching set up to do our practice.

Men In Black-Alama Tua, Domingo Ochivillo and Ekueta Schuster during the departments party at Tradewinds Hotel. These are the three hard working poeple at the office. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you all. Oso Le Mea! ChoooooooooooooooooooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.