Explore the Fagatele Bay Photo Gallery

For more great photos taken of the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, click the image and visit the Photo Gallery.

Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary comprises a fringing coral reef ecosystem nestled within an eroded volcanic crater on the island of Tutuila, American Samoa. This smallest and most remote of all the National Marine Sanctuaries is the only true tropical reef in the program.

Fagatele Bay provides a home to a wide variety of animals and plants, that thrive in the protected waters of the bay. The coral reef ecosystem found in the Sanctuary contains many of the species native to this part of the Indo-Pacific biogeographic region. Turtle, whales, sharks and the giant clam all find refuge in this protected area.

Click here for more information.

Fagatele Bay NMS assisted the White House Council on Environmental Quality's visit to American Samoa. While here, they conducted open houses to acquire information and discuss the potential for additional recognition or protection for Rose Atoll and other Pacific island marine areas. For more information, click here.

Check out Fagatele Bay's management plan review as the site explores new directions in the upcoming years.

American Samoa Community College works with the sanctuary to provide marine science internships for students. Click here to download ASCC Marine Science Internships (pdf, 80 kb) for details.

Samoan Archipelago Marine Alien Species Workshop: The workshop took place March 18 and 19, 2008 in Pago Pago American Samoa. Click here (pdf) for a brief overview.