Marine Debris Sculptures that competed during the Fish and Wildlife Expo Fair








1) This sculpture is made out of soda cans, trash bags, plastic bags and newspapers.

2) This sculpture is made out of compact discs, shoes, computer pieces, piano key board, soda cans, newspapers, container cover, card board, bottle caps.

3). This sculpture is made out of card boards, vailima bottle, construction papers, foil, compact disc and light pulps.

No-Take MPA Program Informational Booth

Sione Lam Yuen Jr. presenting to EMS staff about Marine Protected Area around American Samoa that are managed under the government.  He was explaining the benefits of having an MPA, how many years an MPA is close for and what can village people do to help government agencies to manage and protect marine resources for the future.

Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) Informational Booth

Tee Jay Letalie and Mika Letuane with their FAD booth during the Fish and Wildlife Expo on November 22, 2013. Displayed were FAD posters that explained the difference between Industrial FADs and Artisanal FADs.  They also displayed fishing gears that are used near deep water FADs, Off Shore FADs and Near Shore FADs and maps to show people where in American Samoa are FADs deployed.   These types of aggregation devices can attract Yellow fin Tuna,  Skip Jack, Rainbow Runner, Mahi Mahi and Blue Marlin.

BioSampling Informational Booth

Sa'olotoga Tofaeono and Auva'a So'onaolo extracting otolith and gonad to determine fish growth and life history of the fish. Sa'olotoga also mentioned that they've been doing this project for almost 3 years now and they've measured and cut up close to a 100, 000 fish, the data is sent off to Hawaii for analyzing.

Enforcement Informational Booth

Peter Eves and Mundey Ah Ching along with their informational booth during the Fish and Wildlife Expo on November 22, 2013.  Displayed were life vest for safety when using a jet ski or boat and even when swimming from shore and some of the illegal fishing gears that were confiscate from fishermen; fish electrocute machine.

PALS week wave at Utulei on November 19, 2013

Auva'a, Chey, Krishna and Sa'ia with their banner that reads Welcome To Our Fish & Wildlife Expo.

Sione, Foga and Salefu with their banner that reads Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources

Avele, Ben and Tovine with their banner that reads "O Le A Sou Sao Mo A Taeao-Puipui, Fa'asao ma Fuafua le Tamaoaiga mo le Lumana'i".

Selaina, Wesley, Leilani, Peter, Tusi, Sitivi, Hanipale, Auva'a, Chey and Dereik with their banners during the PALS week activities.  Thanks to Gwen and Trevor for photos..

People, Air, Land and Sea (PALS) Week Wave

On November 19, 2013 the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency had a wave at Utulei.  Staffs of both agencies were there to support the effort to wave at people of American Samoa.The theme for DMWR this week is "Our Island, Our Resources, Our Life".  

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.

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.

No-Take Marine Protected Area Program Informational Booth

Tafito Aitaoto is explaining to Samoana High School students the purpose of having an MPA to protect and manage resources for future generations and the people of American Samoa.  Tafito is also talking about the ADCP and Drifter project that the no-take mpa program has been working on for the past four years and why is it important to have a current survey before establishing and designing an mpa.

DMWR Enforcement Booth

Edwin, Leilani and Peter with their Enforcement Information Booth in order for the public to be aware of the departments rules and regulation on mpa's, illegal fishing gears, illega fishing methods, fish and invertebrate sizes, sea turtle shell products that are imported or exported, bleached coral that are imported or exported, and what marine resources that are now ban from fishing. The enforcement crew did a good job on making sure that the people of American Samoa are aware of the regulations that they need to follow.

Drop Camera Display

Ekueta Schuster and Alama Tua setting up their drop camera as one of the tools use to do benthic analysis at different sites around American Samoa.  The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources hosted a Community Awareness Fair and this was one of the booth that was set up by the BioSampling and Key Reef Species Crew.

FAD D being deployed from the Sili at the village of Amanave

DMWR staffs and the Sili staffs are looking at a job well done deploying one of the FAD for Amanave on a Saturday April 27, 2013.  Mr. William Sokimi is communicating with the captain to turn the vessel around at this point so the rope and the bouy that is attached to the chain for this FAD is being deployed.

FAD E & F Deployment on April 27, 2013

Joe Tiatia, Meko Letuane and Herbie Umi are working on the aggregation device for both FAD E & F.  There is a net tied on the chain that Joe is holding and the purpose of this net is where the algae is growing then the smaller fish will migrate and eat this algae.  Bigger fish will eat the smaller fish that is eating the algae on the net.

Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) Training with William Sokimi, Kerat Rikim and Joe Tiatia from Secretary of Pacific Community (SPC)

Mr. William and Tee Jay explaining why is important to measure how much the nylon rope, polypro and the chain before putting together and attached it to the spar bouy.  This is preparing FAD's for the village of Amanave and Fagasa which is FAD E and F.  Mr. William Sokimi was the same instructor that came in 2012 to conduct a FAD training and deployed FAD A and C in the villages of Aunu'u and Vaitogi.

Rev. Iasepi Ulu with closing prayer

Guests that participated the DMWR Wharf Dedication had lunch on the wharf for the first time since the project was finish in 2012.  They enjoyed the fagaloa view and a great sunny day.  Thanks to DMWR staff with refreshments for this day.  Malo Le Galulue!

Mrs. Leone Ulu with the cutting of the ribbon

The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Wharf is officially opened for sports fish fishermen.  The I'a Lapo'a Fishing Tournament will start from Apia, Samoa on the third week on May 2013.  This is one of the project that will be used during this tournament, people from New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and American Samoa will participate in this event.  They will compete on who will get the heaviest fish and what kind of species they caught.  The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Boat base Survey Crew will be at the tournament to collect the data.

Hon. Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga with his remarks

Honorable Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and First Lady Cynthia Moliga represented on behalf of the American Samoa Government at the Departmen of Marine and Wildlife Resources Wharf Dedication.  Lolo thanks all the directors from all the government agencies that are worked together to complete this project for local fishermen.