The American Samoa coral reef monitoring program : an integrated long-term monitoring plan for the Territory : a report from the American Samoa Coral Reef Monitoring Workshop Resources and Coral Reef Advisory Group to the Governor

Abstract

In March 2002, a workshop was held to build a comprehensive long-term monitoring plan for American Samoa by coordinating existing monitoring programs and identifying areas where additional monitoring/research was needed. The primary achievement of the plan is to identify and define core sites on the main islands of Tutuila and the Manu’a group in order to mesh existing programs monitoring corals, fishes and water quality. The priority for these and future monitoring programs will be to monitor these core sites, of which there are eight on Tutuila and six on each of the islands of Ofu/Olosega and Ta’u. The other major monitoring initiative is that of the multi-disciplinary Coral Reef Ecosystem Investigation surveys which will monitor alternative sites on Tutuila and the Manu’a group, as well as remote Swains Island and Rose Atoll. The monitoring plan acts as an in-depth guide to coral reef monitoring in American Samoa by detailing the goals and methodologies of these and other major monitoring programs, notably of the various Marine Protected Areas. Listing the workshop recommendations for additional monitoring/research needed for comprehensive long-term monitoring completes the plan.