Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the smallest and most remote of the Nation’s National Marine Sanctuaries, but its coral reefs may have the highest marine-life diversity in the sanctuary system. Formed by an extinct volcano, the bay’s habitats are home to a bewildering variety of tropical fish, invertebrates and algae.
Designated in 1985, Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary is co-administered by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Samoa Department of Commerce.
Provided is a link to Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary:
For more information contact Genevieve Brighouse at 684-633-7792 or Gene.Brighouse@noaa.gov.+
On October 21, 2011 NOAA and ASDOC released a comprehensive draft management plan and environmental assessment for Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary in American Samoa. The new draft plan describes the sanctuary’s goals and guiding principles, regulations and boundaries, and guides future activities. It also sets priorities and performance measures for resource protection, research and education programs. The draft plan also proposes the addition of five new reef and offshore areas.
The proposed new areas are Fagoma’a / Fagalu’a (Larsen Bay), waters around Swains Island and Muliāva, also known as Rose Atoll, and some of the waters around Aunu`u Island and Ta’u Island. Inclusion of these areas into the sanctuary will result in a high degree of protection for some of the oldest and largest known corals in the world. Also, it is important to note that the Sanctuary proposal does NOT include land – only marine areas.
Comments from the public are requested on both the draft management plan and proposed regulatory changes. All comments must be received by Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Written comments should be sent by mail to: Gene Brighouse, Superintendent, Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, P.O. Box 4318, Pago Pago, American Samoa, 96799.
Comments may also be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov by clicking “Submit a Comment,” then enter NOAA-NOS-2011-0243 in the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on the “Submit a Comment” icon on the right of that line.
