Fagatele Bay - National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
Two American Samoans: National Marine Sanctuary intern Rex Lokeni and landowner and gatekeeper Pio Fuimono share why Fagatele Bay is one of the special protected areas in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.
Executive producers: Jean-Michel Cousteau and Gene Brighouse
Producer: Jim Knowlton
Filmed and Edited by Jim Knowlton
Slack Key Guitar Music: Doug Shirley and Bolo Mikiela Rodrigues
Special thanks to:
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
This film is the first film of the American Samoa Culture and Ocean Conservation Film Series. The stories in these short films are told by Americans Samoans who share their passion for their unique culture and for protecting their ocean resources for future generations.
About National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is located in the cradle of Polynesia’s oldest culture and is thought to support the greatest diversity of marine life in the National Marine Sanctuary System, including a wide variety of coral and other invertebrates, fishes, turtles, marine mammals and marine plants. The sanctuary protects extensive coral reefs, including some of the oldest and largest Porites coral heads in the world, along with deep water reefs, hydrothermal vent communities, and rare marine archaeological resources, and also encompasses important fishing grounds, the southernmost point in the United States, and waters surrounding one of the world’s smallest atolls. The sanctuary is also the only true tropical reef within the National Marine Sanctuary System, and is the most remote location within that system. NOAA co-manages the sanctuary with the American Samoa Government and works closely with communities adjacent to the sanctuary, all within the context of Samoan cultural traditions and practices.
About Ocean Futures Society
Our mission is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people
throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting
the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the
ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet.
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa - Fagatele Bay
Fagatele Bay, designated a sanctuary in 1986, contains 0.25 square miles of marine habitat off the southwest coast of Tutuila Island, adjacent to the villages of Futiga and Vaitogi. Fagatele Bay is thought to support the greatest diversity of marine life in the National Marine Sanctuary System, with 168 species of corals, more than 1,400 species of algae and invertebrates, and 271 species of fish. Hawksbill and green sea turtles, dolphins, humpback whales, and birds also visit the bay.
Your Earth Is Blue: National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
Thirty years ago, Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary was designated to protect the fringing coral reef ecosystem off the island of Tutuila in American Samoa. In 2012, the sanctuary expanded to protect five additional areas in American Samoa and became National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa! Learn more about this extraordinary marine sanctuary in our video and at #EarthIsBlue
Fagatele Bay Marine Sanctuary, Tutuila, American Samoa
Fagatele Bay Marine Sanctuary, is a no-take marine sanctuary in Tutuila, American Samoa. It has pristine corals, gangs of convict surgeons, large porites and many other reef fish
Your Earth Is Blue: Exploring National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
What lies in the deep waters of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa? This February, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to find out. Check out some of what they found in our video!
Fagatele Bay, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa - Underwater
Hokulea: Arrival in American Samoa - American Samoa Culture and Ocean Conservation Film Series
Hokulea - Arrival in American Samoa
Nainoa Thompson explains how early Samoans figured out how to create sailing canoes that could sail hundreds of miles and they figured out how to navigate using the stars so that they could migrate to distant islands such as Hawaii. He explains how Hokulea's arrival to American Samoa is significant because he and his crew want to honor Samoans because if it wasn't for their accomplishments than Hawaii would not have been discovered. He seeks their blessing and their permission before they continue their voyage around the world on Hokulea.
Executive Producers - Jean-Michel Cousteau, Gene Brighouse
Producer - Jim Knowlton
Filmed and edited by Jim Knowlton
Music - Doug Shirley
Special thanks to:
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
This film is the fourth film of the American Samoa Culture and Ocean Conservation Film Series. The stories in these short films are told by Americans Samoans and ocean luminaries, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Sylvia Earle and Nainoa Thompson, who share their passion for their unique culture and for protecting their ocean resources for future generations.
About National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is located in the cradle of Polynesia’s oldest culture and is thought to support the greatest diversity of marine life in the National Marine Sanctuary System, including a wide variety of coral and other invertebrates, fishes, turtles, marine mammals and marine plants. The sanctuary protects extensive coral reefs, including some of the oldest and largest Porites coral heads in the world, along with deep water reefs, hydrothermal vent communities, and rare marine archaeological resources, and also encompasses important fishing grounds, the southernmost point in the United States, and waters surrounding one of the world’s smallest atolls. The sanctuary is also the only true tropical reef within the National Marine Sanctuary System, and is the most remote location within that system. NOAA co-manages the sanctuary with the American Samoa Government and works closely with communities adjacent to the sanctuary, all within the context of Samoan cultural traditions and practices.
About Ocean Futures Society
Our mission is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people
throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting
the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the
ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet.
AMERICAN SAMOA
American Samoa, located within the geographical region of Oceania, is one of only two possessions of the united states in the southern hemisphere , the other being Jarvis island. its total land area is 197.1 km2 consisting of five rugged , volcanic islands and two coral atolls. the five volcanic islands are: Tutuila, Aunu u , Ofu, Olosega, Tau. the coral atolls are:swains,and rose atoll .of the seven islands , rose atoll is the only uninhabited one; it is a marine national monument. due to its positioning in the south pacific ocean, it is frequently hit by tropical cyclones between November and April. rose atoll is the easternmost point of the territory. American Samoa is the southernmost part of the united states. American Samoa is home to the national park of American Samoa.
Pago Pago
Pago Pago is a long trip but diving the National Park of American Samoa reefs makes it worth the effort. There is no dive shop so logistics will be challenging but the island is beautiful and the people are friendly. If you go you'll want to try some Oka (raw fish pickled in lemon juice with coconut cream).
National Park of American Samoa: Vatia Tide Pools
On this episode we take you snorkeling in the National Park of American Samoa to see some beautiful scenery, giant clams and coral.
Bolosoma glass sponge near Malulu Seamount, American Samoa
A glass sponge, likely a new species of the family Euplectellidae, genus Bolosoma, was observed near Malulu Seamount, National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, on 27 February 2017 by NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.
Credit:
Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 American Samoa
Tisa's Marine Sanctuary in American Samoa
Tisa talks about 30 years of protecting her marine sanctuary. Amazing footage of sharks, eels and barracuda safely foraging at Tisa's beach. Traditional cultural values guide a responsible effort for saving the environment by one individual in American Samoa.
VOS2-05 Full Episode - Life in American Samoa
In this episode, we journey to American Samoa to meet researchers, scientists, village chiefs, and everyday citizens to see how they're coping with a changing ocean. We'll learn about the history, culture, natural resources, and challenges American Samoa faces from many perspectives.
Find out more at voiceofthesea.org.
Tutuila, American Samoa
Another day of fieldwork heading to Fagatele Bay for water sampling. I don’t usually capture the actual fieldwork cause my hands are tide from it. But the boat ride to and from our sites is just beautiful!
Sunday and Family - American Samoa Culture and Ocean Conservation Film Series
Film synopsis: Two American Samoans, High Chief Togotogo Sotoa and Rex Lokeni, an untitled man, share parts of their culture that bring families and communities closer together.
In American Samoa, chiefs give family members tasks to benefit their family. When family members earn respect from their families, their chief can grant them a title such as paramount chief, high chief, and high talking chief. An untitled man works to earn a servings chief title to a high chief in hopes of getting a high talking chief title.
Executive Producers - Jean-Michel Cousteau, Gene Brighouse
Producer - Jim Knowlton
Filmed and edited by Jim Knowlton
Music - Doug Shirley - Silver Threads and Nahenahe
Special thanks to:
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
This film is the first film of the American Samoa Culture and Ocean Conservation Film Series. The stories in these short films are told by Americans Samoans who share their passion for their unique culture and for protecting their ocean resources for future generations.
About National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa is located in the cradle of Polynesia’s oldest culture and is thought to support the greatest diversity of marine life in the National Marine Sanctuary System, including a wide variety of coral and other invertebrates, fishes, turtles, marine mammals and marine plants. The sanctuary protects extensive coral reefs, including some of the oldest and largest Porites coral heads in the world, along with deep water reefs, hydrothermal vent communities, and rare marine archaeological resources, and also encompasses important fishing grounds, the southernmost point in the United States, and waters surrounding one of the world’s smallest atolls. The sanctuary is also the only true tropical reef within the National Marine Sanctuary System, and is the most remote location within that system. NOAA co-manages the sanctuary with the American Samoa Government and works closely with communities adjacent to the sanctuary, all within the context of Samoan cultural traditions and practices.
About Ocean Futures Society
Our mission is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people
throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting
the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the
ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet.
American Samoa | Hidden Beach Drone Footage
American Samoa drone footage of Hidden Beach (Larsen's Cove). Please be respectful of the village that owns the place.
Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (
Artist:
TRAILER: The Jewel of the Ocean - American Samoa
NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has released a short film, Penina Tutasi o Amerika Samoa: The Jewel of the Ocean -- Amerika Samoa. This film highlights American Samoa as an Eco-Place Destination for visitors, scientists and travel industries across the globe. It shares the important connection of the Samoan culture to resource management and sustainability.
Extreme Snorkeling! Surveying Damage from Hurricane Gita - American Samoa February 2018
Mikah Meyer helps the National Park Service survey the damage from Hurricane Gita with some Extreme Snorkeling through the National Park of American Samoa. More at
VOS2-05 Promo - Life in American Samoa
In this episode, we journey to American Samoa to meet researchers, scientists, village chiefs, and everyday citizens to see how they're coping with a changing ocean. We'll learn about the history, culture, natural resources, and challenges American Samoa faces from many perspectives.
Find out more at voiceofthesea.org.
Rose Atoll, American Samoa
Footage taken during a 2012 research campaign with the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA.
Rose Atoll is located approximately 130 nautical miles east-southeast of Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa, and is the easternmost Samoan island and the only atoll in the Samoan Archipelago. It is the southernmost unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System and shares the distinction with Jarvis Island of being the only National Wildlife Refuges located south of the equator.
Rose Atoll is nearly square, with the ocean-side slopes about 1 mile in length. It is one of the smallest atolls in the world, consisting of two low sandy islets, Rose and Sand. Each is located on a coralline algal reef rim enclosing a lagoon. A single, natural pass with a minimum depth of 8 to 48 feet deep links the lagoon to the sea. The lagoon is a maximum of 1.2 miles wide and up to about 65 feet deep, and includes 1,575 acres. Rose and Sand Islands cover areas of about 14 and 7 acres respectively.
Rose Atoll is part of the Territory of American Samoa and was established as a National Wildlife Refuge by cooperative agreement between the Government of American Samoa and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife (a predecessor of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) on August 24, 1973.