American Samoa

Ephraim TempleUH Sea Grant

American Samoa Community College

Background

62,000 people as of 2005 Land areas of 197 km2

Ocean area (EEZ) of 426,405 km2

5 volcanic islands and 2 coral atolls GDP=$510 million ($5,800 per capita) 93% Pacific Islander, 3% Asian, 1% White, 3% Other 90% of land communally owned, economy relies

heavily on US trade, grants, and jobs. Tuna canneries are bulk of the private sector

Unincorporated territory of the U.S. since 1900

Tutuila

Insert relevant photo of your location

Insert relevant photo of your location

Major Environmental Issues

What is the current state of the environment? Declining near-shore fisheries Impact of population growth on environment Impact of environment on human population Climate change Nitrogen loading Fossil Fuels for energy

Data Collection

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collects air temperature, wind speed and direction,

dominant swell height, tides, barometric pressure, rainfall, sea surface temperature and atmospheric CO2

Data are collected by one buoy about 1 mile offshore, one station in Tafuna near the airport, and the CO2 monitoring station in Tula

US and AS EPA Water quality of river and stream runoff

Data Collection

AS Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Monitor coral reef health Monitor near shore and offshore fish populations Assess impact of marine protected areas on

human and marine populations Monitor human response to changes in ocean

conditions US National Park Service

Monitor coral reef health Gauge interactions between terrestrial and marine

habitats

Research Needs What is the current state of the environment?

Ocean currents and current flow modeling, more accurate wave energy data

marine resources of and biological impact of submerged barrier islands and growing island Vailulu’u

Declining near-shore fisheries relationship between hydrodynamics and larval connectivity location of important sources and sinks for marine larvae impact of MPA’s on reef populations

Impact of environment on human population Tsunami inundation and flood zone mapping

Research Needs

Impact of population growth on environment toxicity of fish beyond Pago Pago Harbor impact of ballast water on native species

Climate change trends in reef ecosystems in relationship to global warming

Nitrogen loading effect of traditional waste management practices on near-

shore communities Fossil Fuels for energy

oceanic renewable energy resources