The U.S. Territory of American Samoa (the United States' southern-most territory) consists of a group of five volcanic islands and two atolls (Rose Atoll and Swains Island) in the central South Pacific Ocean, approximately 4,200 km south of the Main Hawaiian Islands. The five volcanic islands, Tutuila, Aunu'u, Ofu, Olosega, and Ta'u, are the major inhabited islands. Tutuila is the largest island and the center of government. Ofu, Olosega, and Ta'u, collectively are referred to as the Manu'a Islands.
These islands are small, ranging in size from Tutuila (138 km²) to the uninhabited and remote Rose Atoll (4 km²). Swains Island (approximately 2 km²) is an unbroken circle of land with an enclosed lagoon. The limited shallow water coral reef habitats consist primarily of fringing coral reefs, a few offshore banks, and two atolls.
Many species of Indo-Pacific corals, other invertebrates, and fishes are members of the American Samoa coral reef ecosystem. Although the corals have largely recovered from a number of natural disturbances, including a major crown-of-thorns starfish invasion, several bleaching events, and powerful damaging hurricanes, maintaining the health of the ecosystem is an ongoing task. Harmful fishing practices, coastal construction, pollution, coral bleaching, and coral disease have taken their toll. Management actions such as regulating SCUBA spearfishing, protecting large reef species, and relocation of tuna cannery outfall pipes have worked to mitigate some of the impacts and protect the coral ecosystem.
Samoa location map
American Samoa's Coral Reef Management Priorities
American Samoa Capacity Assessment Report and Coral Reef Conservation Time Line
Socioeconomic Assessment for Marine Protected Areas and Watershed Management Areas in American Samoa
Biogeographic Assessment of the Samoan Archipelago
Long term monitoring of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Tutuila Island, American Samoa: results of surveys conducted in 2007/8, including a re-survey of the historic Aua Transect
Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Report for American Samoa: 2002-2006
Coral Reef Ecosystems of American Samoa: a 2002-2010 Overview
Fagatele Bay 2007 Condition Report
Mesophotic Communities of the Insular Shelf at Tutuila, American Samoa
Natural History Guide to American Samoa
American Samoa: Local Action Strategy
Description of Wetlands in American Samoa by Richard D.Volk
Proceedings of the American Samoa Coral Reef Fishery Workshop
Report on the Status of Marine Protected Areas in Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States. Volume 1: Marine Protected Areas Managed by U.S. States,Territories, and Commonwealths. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 2 February 2007
Field Identification Guide to the Threatened Corals of the U.S. Pacific Islands
An encrusting colony of crateriformis in American Samoa. This shows the typical color, and the small ridges.
Copyright Douglas Fenner.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002.
American Samoa Local Action Strategy Fact Sheet
The United States Territory of American Samoa: three-year local action strategies 2004-2007
American Samoa Climate Change Mitigation Executive Order 03-2012
Territorial Climate Change Adaptation Framework
Faga'alu Village watershed management and conservation plan
Fagaalu Watershed Plan Implementation Supplement
Search the CoRIS Geoportal for American Samoa metadata, data and publications
You may also enter the name of any atoll, island or reef, uch as "Aunu'u", "Ofu", "Olosega", "Ta'u", "Rose Atoll", or "Swains Island" in the CoRIS Geoportal search box and press the "Search" button.
Reef Base Coral Bleaching Reports
Select "Micronesia" in the Region window and "American Samoa" in the Country window
Coral Reef Watch Satellite Monitoring
Coral Reef Watch - Samoa and Southwest Pacific Virtual Stations
The Global Temperature-Salinity Profile Program
NOAA/National Weather Service - Data from American Samoa
Weather observations - Pago Pago
USGS Water Resources - Data for American Samoa
NOAA CO-OPS - Tide Data
NOAA Tide Predictions - American Samoa
NOAA's National Data Buoy Center
Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center - American Samoa
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) GIS Data Archive
Fishes of National Park of American Samoa
Corals of National Park of American Samoa
Marine Invertebrates of the National Park of American Samoa
Geologic setting and ecological functioning of coral reefs in American Samoa
NOAA's National Oceanographic Data Center - American Samoa data
National Park Service - Pacific Islands Network Inventory and Monitoring Program
Coral Reef Monitoring Program for American Samoa
American Samoa Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas
Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) - American Samoa Land Cover Data
American Samoa history and general information
Coral Reef Program - National Park of the American Samoa
National Marine Santuary of American Samoa - About Your Sanctuary
Marine Protected Areas of the United States Home Page
The Marine Protected Areas Inventory
Marine Federal Areas Fact Sheet
Executive order 13158: Marine Protected Areas
Alofau Village Marine Protected Area
Amanave Village Village Marine Protected Area
Amaua and Auto Marine Protected Area
Fagamab Village Marine Protected Area
Leone Pala Special Management Area
Masausi Village Marine Protected Area
Matu'u & Faganeanea Village Marine Protected Area
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
National Park of American Samoa
Nu'uuli Pala Special Management Area
Poloa Village Marine Protected Area
Rose Atoll Marine National Moument
Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge