Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Government (ASG), through the Deep Ocean Sustainability Initiative, today announced the launch of a comprehensive new public education website designed to become a premier source of information on deep-sea minerals for American Samoa, the wider Pacific, and audiences around the world.

The new website, deepseainfo.as.gov, brings together science, government documents, news, videos, expert perspectives, educational materials, and information about both the potential risks and opportunities associated with deep-sea minerals in one accessible location. 

Importantly, the website is designed to be a living resource. It will be updated weekly with news, videos, scientific information, educational content, and developments from American Samoa, the Pacific, and around the world. 

The site has also been designed for learners of all ages and levels, from children and students encountering the subject for the first time to adults, educators, policymakers, scientists, and others seeking more detailed information. 

Interactive learning and gameplay are incorporated into the site to help users explore complex questions in an understandable and engaging way, including the potential risks and rewards, competing priorities, and tradeoffs involved in decisions about deep-sea minerals. 

While developed first and foremost to ensure the people of American Samoa have access to reliable information, the Administration's broader goal is to establish American Samoa as a central repository for deep-sea minerals information in the Pacific — a place where people from across the Moana, researchers, policymakers, students, industry, environmental organizations, and interested members of the public can come to better understand the science, potential environmental risks, possible economic benefits, and differing perspectives surrounding this emerging issue.

Governor Pulaali'i Nikolao Pula has emphasized that American Samoa does not support commercial deep-sea mineral extraction at this time and that significant questions remain regarding potential effects on fisheries, the marine environment, and deep-ocean ecosystems. 

At the same time, the Governor has stressed the importance of remaining engaged in the federal process so that American Samoa is represented wherever decisions affecting its ocean, economy, culture, and future are being made. 

"Our responsibility is to make sure our people have the information they need to understand what is being proposed, what the risks may be, what opportunities may exist, and what decisions still have to be made," Governor Pulaali'i said. "Our ocean is central to who we are as Samoan people and to our economic future. We must approach these questions carefully, based on science, transparency, and the interests of our people and future generations." 

The website is part of the Pula-Pulu Administration's broader commitment to informed public participation, transparency, science, and environmental stewardship as the federal deep-sea minerals process continues to develop. 

The launch follows the Governor's September 15 submission of formal comments to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regarding the proposed offshore mineral lease sale. 

Those comments were informed by public submissions, the work of the Deep-Sea Minerals Steering Committee, territorial agencies and subject-matter experts, as well as concerns and perspectives shared by members of the community. 

A central purpose of the website is to also make clear where American Samoa is in the process today: Commercial mining is not occurring. 

The current federal process concerns possible leasing and early-stage activities. Any future proposal for commercial extraction would require additional plans, environmental review, regulatory decisions, and opportunities for public participation. 

The Administration believes that exploration, scientific research, environmental baseline studies, and commercial extraction should not be treated as the same decision. Any early-stage activity must be carefully managed and used to improve understanding of the deep ocean, establish credible environmental baselines, and provide the information necessary to evaluate future proposals. 

For that reason, the website is not intended to advocate a predetermined outcome. 

Instead, it provides a place to examine the issue from multiple perspectives, including the science, environmental and cultural concerns, potential economic opportunities, technological developments, regulatory processes, and experiences of other Pacific Island communities and jurisdictions. 

Visitors will find frequently asked questions, scientific resources, government documents, videos and interviews, interactive educational tools, and community information. 

Younger learners and newcomers to the subject can begin with accessible educational content and interactive experiences, while users seeking greater depth can explore scientific, regulatory, environmental, and policy materials. 

Gameplay and other interactive features allow users to explore choices and see how different decisions can involve environmental, economic, social, and other tradeoffs. 

The website will continue to expand as new information becomes available. Weekly updates will help ensure that the resource evolves alongside the science, policy, technology, and global conversation surrounding deep-sea minerals. 

The Administration's goal is for American Samoa to contribute not only to the local conversation, but also to the broader Pacific discussion, creating a trusted place where information can be gathered, examined, questioned, and shared. 

Public education is one part of a broader ASG strategy that will continue to advocate for rigorous environmental safeguards; protection of American Samoa's tuna fisheries and marine resources; transparent scientific monitoring and public access to information; meaningful territorial participation in federal decisions; workforce development and local business opportunities; and fair economic participation for the people of American Samoa should future activities ever move beyond research and exploration. 

Governor Pulaali'i emphasized that engagement should not be interpreted as approval of commercial mining."

Having a seat at the table gives American Samoa the ability to ask difficult questions, demand safeguards, insist on good science, and protect our interests," the Governor said. "Whatever the future brings, decisions affecting our ocean should not be made without our people being informed and our voice being heard." 

The Deep Ocean Sustainability Initiative will complement the website with continuing public outreach, including community forums and panel discussions, interviews with scientists and other subject-matter experts, educational materials, social media information, and additional opportunities for residents to ask questions and participate.

The public from schoolchildren in American Samoa to communities throughout the Pacific and interested people around the world are invited to explore, learn, and engage with the new resource.  It will be available soon at: DeepSealnfo.as.gov