Scientists and experts from across the United States met in Kaanapali, Maui to discuss key national issues and proposed new actions, as well as present progress reports in their efforts to protect the coral reef ecosystem.

The 32nd US Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) meeting took place Sept. 2-7 and was co-hosted by the Dept. of Commerce, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Dept. of Interior.

Representing American Samoa were Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Dept. of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) Director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga.

Lemanu highlighted the Crown of Thorns (COTs) Starfish outbreak, which is an ongoing major threat to the survival of American Samoa’s coral reef.

(Over the last two years, multiple agencies have eradicated over 15,000 COTs and yet, they are still rapidly eating our corals. Root causes include land based sources of pollution, nutrient runoff from sewage, agriculture, and industry).

The Lt. Governor also mentioned the increasing incidents of harmful algal blooms or red tides.

He thanked the NOAA staff for the time and effort put into the final determination of coral reef species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) although according to Matagi-Tofiga, American Samoa still believes that the ESA is not the right tool for managing coral reefs specific to the risk of climate change, since eight of these species are found in the territory.

Matagi-Tofiga, along with officials from other jurisdictions, met with Eileen Sobeck (Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries) and staff regarding the ESA listing and jurisdictional concerns.

“We continue to recommend the support for staff-building programs in the jurisdiction,” Matagi-Tofiga said, adding that they also support more sustainable funding for coral that will allow for long term investment, and foster peer to peer learning exchanges between local, federal, and NGOs for coral reef management.

Climate Change, Ocean Acidification, Reef Response, Managing Construction Storm Water Impacts, and Herbivore Survey Reef Sites were some of the discussions that were highlighted.

Others who participated in the meeting include Christinera Tuitele of the AS Environmental Protection Agency, who presented American Samoa’s Fagaalu Watershed Project, Kristine Bucchaneri of the territory’s Coral Reef Advisory Group, and American Samoa NOAA Liaison, Hideyo Hattori.

BACKGROUND

Formed in 1996, the US All Island Coral Reef Committee (AIC) represents the combined voice of the coral reef jurisdictions of the US and Freely Associated States.  They help elevate and highlight jurisdictional priorities to the US Coral Reef Task Force and in the federal process to conserve coral reefs.  They operate on a consensus-based process, thus its priorities reflect the issues of great concern and value across all seven US coral reef jurisdictions.

AIC members are Governor-appointed coral reef points of contact from American Samoa, CNMI, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico (next year's host country),and the US Virgin Islands.  Affiliated members include Fed. State of Micronesia, Rep. Of Marshall islands, abs Rep. Of Palau.

Vision: Thriving coral reef ecosystems, effectively managed to protect their cultural, environmental, and economic value for future generations.
Mission: To be a unified voice for the effective management of coral reef ecosystems in the US and Freely Associated States.