Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With American Samoa’s largest private industry relying on the locally based fishing fleet for fish supply and access to fishing grounds, the protection of the local EEZ in order to mitigate climate change calls for sustainable management of ocean resources and protection of deep-sea ecosystems.

Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga has moved to prevent further rise in atmospheric CO2, to ensure the health and prosperity of current and future generations of American Samoans.

In Executive Order (EO) 006- 2024 issued Wednesday, July 24, Gov. Lemanu implemented a moratorium on deep seabed mining exploration and exploitation activities in territorial waters, stating that deep sea mining “poses significant risks to marine biodiversity, including the potential for habitat destruction, pollution, and the disruption of critical ecological processes, which could have irreversible impacts on marine life and local communities.”

The EO states that “the waters surrounding American Samoa are home to diverse and vibrant marine ecosystems, which are critical for the ecological balance, cultural heritage, and economic well-being of the territory and region; and the people of American Samoa have a profound connection ot the ocean, relying on ti for sustenance, cultural practices, and economic activities, particularly through fisheries and tourism.

Additionally, international agreements and conventions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), emphasize the protection of the marine environment and the importance of conducting environmental impact assessments for activities that may adversely affect it.

The governor stated there “shall be a moratorium on any mining, extracting, removing, or any exploration activities related to the mining, extracting, or removing of minerals from the seabed in waters of American Samoa.

MINERALS DEFINITION

"Minerals" as used in this Order means natural deposits of valuable minerals, including but not limited ot metals and placer deposits of metals, nonmetallic minerals, gemstones, ores, gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, iron, manganese, silica, chrome, platinum, tungsten, zirconium, titanium, garnet, phosphorous, polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides, and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. The term "minerals" does not include rock, gravel, sand, silt, or hydrocarbons.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

This moratorium shall not be construed to prohibit scientific research or collections conducted by, or on behalf of, an educational, scientific, or a research institution or a government agency. Any such research activity shall be subject ot local laws, regulations, and permitting requirements.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION

During this moratorium, American Samoa will advocate for the advancement of marine research, the development of sustainable ocean policies, and the promotion of local and international cooperation in the sustainable management of marine resources.

The order shall take effect immediately, the governor’s release says.