Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — It is no secret that marine debris, whether unintentional or intentional, poses a serious threat to our marine ecosystems and to our own health.

Microplastics impact our marine food chain and end up inside us. Derelict fishing nets and plastic soda can holders suffocate turtles and other marine mammals, and helium balloons are mistaken for jellyfish and consumed by bigger fish.

Fagaitua High School’s Marine Science students took to the village of Aua this past weekend to actively reduce the impact of marine debris during their marine debris cleanup. The goal, ultimately, was to increase a sense of social responsibility to care for their community and environment.

This past Saturday, these students did just that. They began in Onesosopo Park and by the time they finished at the Paepaeulupo’o boat shed, they had picked up a total of 142 pounds of marine debris.

The students had a lot of opinions on ways to reduce marine and land debris.

Some of these actions are ones that we can all participate in actively. You make a small change, and it has a huge impact on the cleanliness of our island and our ocean. Do you want to be a part of the solution to our trash problem?

Here are some suggestions that Fagaitua High School’s Marine Science students want to share with you.

•        If you eat on the seawall, take your trash with you and put it in a contained trash can.
•        Buy a reusable, non-plastic water bottle for water. (So many water bottles on the road!)
•        Say NO to plastics. Your one-time plastic spoon or fork will be around long after you're gone.
•        Switch from helium balloons and plastic decorations to organic (launiu) at graduations, weddings, and celebrations.
•        Contact ASPA for junk cars and other big appliances (refrigerators, chest freezers) to have them removed.
•        Put your trash in a trash bag that gets tied up when you dispose of it.
•        Don’t throw your McDonald’s/ Carl’s Jr. trash out when driving. Take a trash bag with you in your car, put it in the trash bag, and properly dispose of it when you get home.
•        Buy an ashtray for your car and put cigarette butts in the ashtray instead of flicking them out on the road.
•        Contact your faipule to support clean island initiatives at the Fono level.

American Samoa is a containerized community. Everything that comes in, stays. Imagine our island with no trash for anyone to pick up, everyone doing their part in keeping our home clean. Let’s work together and be proactive to reduce waste that is ending up in our land and ocean.

This project is supported by the Ocean Guardian School Program through the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

To learn more about what Fagaitua High School students are up to, follow the Fagaitua Vikings Facebook page.