Rapid Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategies for the ... Samo… · Gene Brighouse and...
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RapidVulnerabilityAssessmentand
AdaptationStrategiesfortheNationalMarineSanctuaryandTerritoryofAmericanSamoa
2017
Coverphotos:NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries,NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoa
RapidVulnerabilityAssessmentandAdaptationStrategiesfortheNationalMarineSanctuaryandTerritoryofAmericanSamoa
2017
P.O.Box11195BainbridgeIsland,WA98110
Citation:Score,A.,editor.2017.RapidVulnerabilityAssessmentandAdaptationStrategiesfortheNationalMarineSanctuaryandTerritoryofAmericanSamoa.EcoAdapt,BainbridgeIsland,WA.Formoreinformationaboutthisreport,[email protected].
ContributorsAlessandraScore,EcoAdaptRachelM.Gregg,EcoAdaptWhitneyReynier,EcoAdaptLauraHilberg,EcoAdaptJosephPaulin,NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaSaraHutto,GreaterFarallonesNationalMarineSanctuaryCatherineMarzin,OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuariesKelleyA.Tagarino,UniversityofHawai‘iSeaGrantCollegeProgram&AmericanSamoaCommunityCollege(NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaAdvisoryCouncil)AcknowledgementsThisworkwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheinputofworkshopparticipantsthroughoutboththevulnerabilityassessmentworkshopandtheadaptationstrategydevelopmentworkshop.WewouldliketothanktheNationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaAdvisoryCouncil(NMSASAC),NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoa(NMSAS)SuperintendentGeneBrighouseandDeputySuperintendentAtuatasiLeleiPeau,GreaterFarallonesNationalMarineSanctuary(GFNMS)SuperintendentMariaBrownandCatherineMarzintheOfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries(ONMS)ClimateLeadforprojectsupport.WewouldliketothankSaraHuttofromtheGFNMSforleadingthevulnerabilityassessmentworkshopandJosephPaulinfromtheNMSASforhelpingwithalllogistics.WewouldliketothanktheNMSASTeamforsupportimplementingtheworkshops,especiallyApuluVeronikaMolio’oMata’utiaMortensonfortranslation.Wewouldliketoespeciallythankthefollowingreviewers:CharlesBirkland,UniversityofHawai‘iatManoa,JeremyRaynal,AmericanSamoaCoralReefAdvisoryGroup(CRAG),KelleyA.Tagarino,NMSASACProjectLead,UniversityofHawai‘iSeaGrantCollegeProgram&AmericanSamoaCommunityCollege(ASCC),MelissaSnover,Ecologist,ScottBurch,NationalParkofAmericanSamoa(NPSA)andMareikeSudek,NMSAS.ThisprojecthasbeenmadepossiblewithsupportoftheNationalMarineSanctuaryFoundation,www.marinesanctuary.org.
ParticipantList:VulnerabilityAssessmentWorkshop(July19-20,2016)SaraHutto,GFNMS(facilitator)GeneBrighouse,NMSAS(Superintendent)AtuatasiLeleiPeau,NMSAS(DeputySuperintendent)ApuluVeronikaMolio’oMata’utiaMortenson,NMSAS(translator)JosephPaulin,NMSAS(workshopcoordinator)MelissaSnover,NMSAS(smallgroupfacilitator)IsabelGaoteoteHalatuituia,NMSAS(notetaker)TanimalieLetuli,NMSAS(notetaker)Participants:ScottBurch,NPSA(NMSASAC) HideyoHatori,NOAACRCP MareikeSudek,CRAG/DMWRMiaComeros,ASEPA SabrinaWoofter,CRAG MotusagaValoso,CRAGCeceliaReid,ASEPA KimMcGuire,CRAG/DMWR JeremyRaynal,CRAGMarianaPato,ASEPA LeiPelle,CRAG TantasiFalanai,DOEFatimaSamafea-Liau,NMFS(NMSASAC)
ParticipantList:AdaptationStrategyWorkshop(September14-15,2016)AlessandraScore,EcoAdapt(facilitator)RachelM.Gregg,EcoAdapt(facilitator)CatherineMarzin,ONMS(presenter)KelleyTagarino,SeaGrant,ASCC,NMSASAC(presenter,smallgroupfacilitator)KimMcGuire,CRAG/DMWR(presenter)GeneBrighouse,NMSAS(Superintendent)AtuatasiLeleiPeau,NMSAS(DeputySuperintendent)ApuluVeronikaMolio’oMata’utaiMortenson,NMSAS(translator)JosephPaulin,NMSAS(workshopcoordinator)MelissaSnover,NMSAS(smallgroupfacilitator)IsabelGaoteoteHalatuitui,NMSAS(notetaker)TaimalieLetuli,NMSAS(notetaker)Participants:MikeKing,ASPA KimMcGuire,CRAG/DMWR DougFenner,NOAAEdnaNoga,ASPA SoliOfoia,MayorVaitogi DJSene,ASCC/LandGrantUtuAbeMalae,ASPADirector HideyoHattori,NOAACRCP AldenTagarino,ASCCJasonJaskowiak,ASPA JoseRose,OCI/DOE O.Tovola,ASCCShaunSalave’a,Leone TimClark,NPSA RubyTaduai,ASCCR.T.Toelupe,Leone TriciaSataua,ASEPA AnnabelleLeota,ASCCFonotiSimanu,(NMSASACAunu’uIsland)
FaimaliePeresesa,FutigaMayor
BrianPeck,USFWSRoseAtollManager
TogiolaTulafono,(NMSASACEastTutuila)
ValoryGregg,AtlanticPacificMarine(NMSASACWestTutuila)
PuataunofoTulafono,BoyandGirlsClub
TableofContents
ExecutiveSummary.................................................................................................................i
Chapter1AnOverviewofClimateChangeinAmericanSamoa...............................................1OverviewandBackground........................................................................................................................................................1
OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuariesPerspective........................................................................................................1AmericanSamoa..........................................................................................................................................................................1Faˊa-Samoa-TheSamoanWay.............................................................................................................................................1PreparingforClimateChange................................................................................................................................................2
ClimateChangeImpactsinAmericanSamoa.....................................................................................................................3AirTemperature...........................................................................................................................................................................4AnnualandSeasonalPrecipitation.......................................................................................................................................5Drought............................................................................................................................................................................................6ExtremePrecipitationandTropicalCyclones...................................................................................................................6Streamflow.....................................................................................................................................................................................6SeaLevelRise................................................................................................................................................................................7WaveHeight..................................................................................................................................................................................8SeaSurfaceTemperature.........................................................................................................................................................8OceanAcidification.....................................................................................................................................................................9
Chapter2VulnerabilityAssessmentandAdaptationPlanning:MethodsandWorkshopActivities...............................................................................................................................10Overview......................................................................................................................................................................................10STEP1:IdentifyConservationTargets-FocalResourceSelection..........................................................................11STEP2:VulnerabilityAssessmentWorkshopandMethods......................................................................................11
VulnerabilityTerminologyandDefinitions:....................................................................................................................12HabitatVulnerabilityAssessmentCriteria:Sensitivity,Exposure,andAdaptiveCapacity..........................12SpeciesVulnerabilityAssessmentCriteria:Sensitivity,Exposure,andAdaptiveCapacity...........................13EcosystemServiceVulnerabilityAssessmentCriteria:Sensitivity,Exposure,andAdaptiveCapacity.....15VulnerabilityAssessmentWorkshopActivities.............................................................................................................15
STEP3:AdaptationPlanningWorkshopandMethods................................................................................................16AdaptationTerminologyandDefinitions........................................................................................................................17AdaptationStrategyWorkshopActivities.......................................................................................................................17CurrentManagementGoalsandPotentialVulnerabilities.........................................................................18FutureManagementGoalsandAdaptationActions........................................................................................18AdaptationActionFeasibility...............................................................................................................................................18
Chapter3VulnerabilityAssessmentandAdaptationPlanningResults..................................19Summary......................................................................................................................................................................................191.CoralReefHabitat................................................................................................................................................................20
Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................20VulnerabilityAssessmentResults.......................................................................................................................................20CurrentManagementActions.............................................................................................................................................21FutureManagementActions...............................................................................................................................................21FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions.......................................................22
2.MangrovesandLagoonHabitat......................................................................................................................................22Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................22VulnerabilityAssessmentResults.......................................................................................................................................23CurrentManagementActions.............................................................................................................................................23FutureManagementActions...............................................................................................................................................23
FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions.......................................................243.WaterQuality........................................................................................................................................................................24
Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................24VulnerabilityAssessmentResults.......................................................................................................................................25CurrentManagementActions.............................................................................................................................................25FutureManagementActions...............................................................................................................................................26FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions.......................................................26
4.GiantClams............................................................................................................................................................................27Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................27VulnerabilityAssessmentResults.......................................................................................................................................27CurrentManagementActions.............................................................................................................................................27FutureManagementActions...............................................................................................................................................27FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions.......................................................28
5.ReefFish..................................................................................................................................................................................28ReefHerbivoresIntroduction...............................................................................................................................................28ReefHerbivoreFishVulnerabilityAssessmentResults...............................................................................................29ReefPiscivoresIntroduction.................................................................................................................................................29ReefPiscivoresVulnerabilityAssessmentResults........................................................................................................29CharismaticReefFishIntroduction....................................................................................................................................29CharismaticReefFishVulnerabilityAssessmentResults...........................................................................................30CurrentManagementActionsForAllReefFishAssemblages................................................................................30FutureManagementActionsForAllReefFishAssemblages..................................................................................30FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActionsforAllReefFishAssemblages.........................................................................................................................................................................................................31
6.PelagicFish.............................................................................................................................................................................31Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................31VulnerabilityAssessmentResults.......................................................................................................................................32CurrentManagementActions/FutureManagementActions................................................................................32
7.SharksandRays....................................................................................................................................................................32Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................32VulnerabilityAssessmentResults.......................................................................................................................................32CurrentManagementActions.............................................................................................................................................33FutureManagementActions...............................................................................................................................................33FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions.......................................................33
8.SeaTurtles..............................................................................................................................................................................34Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................34VulnerabilityAssessmentResults.......................................................................................................................................34CurrentManagementActions.............................................................................................................................................34FutureManagementActions...............................................................................................................................................34FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions.......................................................35
LiteratureCited.....................................................................................................................36
Appendices...........................................................................................................................41AppendixI:NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoa.....................................................................................41AppendixII:ListofAcronyms...............................................................................................................................................49AppendixIII:ClimateImpactsSummaryTable..............................................................................................................50AppendixIV:CurrentandFutureAdaptationStrategiesTables...............................................................................55
ListofFiguresFigure1.MapofthePacificIslandssub-regions(left)andAmericanSamoa(right)(Finucaneet
al.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).....................................................................................4Figure2.Adaptationplanningprocess(Glicketal.2011)............................................................10Figure3.Visualrepresentationofthevulnerabilityassessmentprocess...................................12Figure4.Visualrepresentationoftherelationshipbetweenadaptationgoals,strategies,and
specificactions.....................................................................................................................17Figure5.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforCoral
Reefs.....................................................................................................................................22Figure6.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsfor
Mangroves............................................................................................................................24Figure7.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforWater
Quality..................................................................................................................................26Figure8.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforGiant
Clams....................................................................................................................................28Figure9.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforReef
fish........................................................................................................................................31Figure10.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsfor
SharksandRays....................................................................................................................33Figure11.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforSea
Turtles...................................................................................................................................35
ListofTablesTable1.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactions
forcoralreefs.......................................................................................................................55Table2.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementation
detailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforcoralreefs.............................................................................................................................63
Table3.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsformangrovesandPalaLagoon...........................................................................................69
Table4.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsformangrovesandPalaLagoon.................................................................................................70
Table5.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforwaterquality...................................................................................................................72
Table6.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforwaterquality........................................................................................................................74
Table7.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforgiantclams......................................................................................................................75
Table8.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforgiantclams...........................................................................................................................76
Table9.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforreeffish...........................................................................................................................77
Table10.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforreeffish.................................................................................................................................79
Table11.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforsharksandrays.....................................................................................................................80
Table12.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforseaturtles...........................................................................................................81
Table13.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforseaturtles.............................................................................................................................84
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ExecutiveSummary
TheoceansystemsandtheinterdependentlivesandeconomiesthatareprotectedbytheNationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaareaffectedbydiverseandcompoundinganthropogenicfactors.Theserangefrommarinedebrisandpollution,tohumandevelopmentandfishingpractices,toclimatechangeandoceanacidification.Sanctuaryplanningandmanagementhelptoensurethatthenaturalsystemsonwhichmarine,wildlifeandhumancommunitiesdependarehealthyandsustainableforgenerationstocomedespitethesefar-reachingstressors.Foremergingthreatssuchasclimatechangeandoceanacidification,marineandcoastalresourcemanagersoftenrecognizethethreatsclimatechangeposestotheresilience,health,andecosystemservicesofthespecialcoastalandoceanplacestheyprotect,yetarestillstrugglingwithhowtodevelopappropriatemanagementoptions.Thisreportsummarizestheresultsofarapidvulnerabilityassessment(July2016)andadaptationstrategyplanning(September2016)workshopsfor10focalresourcesintheTerritoryandNationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoabyengagingwithstakeholders,includingvillageleaders,communitymembers,resourcemanagers,localgovernmentrepresentatives,andbusinessownersthatrelyontheresourceswiththegoalofincreasingclimateresilienceintheregion.VulnerabilityAssessmentResultsRankingsforeachvulnerabilitycomponent(i.e.,sensitivity,exposure,adaptivecapacity)werecombinedintoanoverallvulnerabilityscore.Thetablebelowdepictstheresultsofthevulnerabilityofthetenfocalresourcesoverthenext20years1aswellasconfidencescores.Overallthevulnerabilityassessmentofthe10focalresourceswasmoderatetolow-moderatewithmostlyhighandmoderateconfidencescores.Thisislikelyduetothe20-yeartimeframethatparticipantschosetouseratherthanamorestandardlong-termtimeframeof50-100years.Ifthestandardclimatechangetimeframewouldhavebeenusedforthisvulnerabilityassessment,onewouldhaveprobablyexpectedhighervulnerabilityandlowerconfidencescores.
FOCALRESOURCE VULNERABILITY CONFIDENCESCORE
CoralReefHabitat Moderate HighMangroveHabitat Low-Moderate HighWaterQuality Moderate HighGiantClam Moderate High
HerbivoreReefFish Low-Moderate HighCharismaticReefFish Low-Moderate High
ReefPiscivores Low-Moderate HighPelagicFish Moderate High
SharksandRays Low-Moderate ModerateSeaTurtles Moderate Moderate
1Participantsidentifieda20-yeartimeframeunderwhichtoassesstheresources’vulnerability.Alongertimeframewouldhaveyieldedmuchlowerconfidencescoresfortherankings,andparticipantswantedtoprovide
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AdaptationStrategyDevelopmentResultsForeachresource,participantsgeneratedalistofadaptationstrategiesandactions.Thetablebelowpresentsthetoprankedcurrentandfutureclimate-informedrecommendedactions.
RESOURCE CLIMATE-INFORMEDACTIONSCoralReefHabitat
• Supportsewerupgradesandexpansions,newwastewatertreatmentplants,properseptictankinstallation,andcesspoolremoval
• Plantmoretrees/vegetationincoastalareasandinvillagestoreducerunoff
• Selectcoralsthatareresilienttobleachingforrestorationprojects
Mangroves • IncreaseuseofstreamcatchmentstocatchdebrisWaterQuality • Improvesewageeffluentqualityandsewagetreatment(secondary
treatmentandUVlights)• Increasepubliceducationandoutreach• Passandenforceanti-litteringbill(KeepAmericanSamoaBeautiful
Act)• Findalternativestountreatable/disposablepollutants
GiantClam • Createhatcheryforclamstockingandgeneticstudyofgiantclamsbetweendifferentislandstodiversifyseedsource
• Increasepubliceducationandoutreach• Enforceanddevelopnewharvestregulationstoavoid
overharvestingReefFish • Utilizefishingregulationsandensureenforcement
Sharks&Rays • Increaseresearchtoidentifybreeding/rearingcriticalhabitatSeaTurtles • Engagevillagecouncilstoenforcelaws
• Monitorturtles/eggs;satellitetaggingtotrackmigrationroutes• Createcitizenscienceprogramtotrackturtle/nestpresence• Increaseeducation(importanceofbeachesandlightuse)• Useturtle-friendlystreetlights
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Chapter1 AnOverviewofClimateChangeinAmericanSamoa
OverviewandBackground
OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuariesPerspectiveTheOfficeofNationalMarineSanctuariesservesasthetrusteeforanetworkofunderwaterparksencompassingmorethan600,000squaremiles(1,553,993sq.km.)ofmarineandGreatLakeswatersfromWashingtonStatetotheFloridaKeys,andfromLakeHurontoAmericanSamoa.Thenetworkincludesasystemof13nationalmarinesanctuariesandPapahānaumokuākeaMarineNationalMonument.Nationalmarinesanctuariesoperateattheheartofcoastalcommunitieswherelocalmarineresourcesprovidejobs,recreationalopportunitiesandasenseofidentity.Eachsanctuaryworkscloselywithitslocal,stateandfederallevelstakeholdersinmanagingthesitetocreateasharedvisionthatintegrateshumanuseswiththeprimarymandateofresourceprotection.Nationalmarinesanctuariesplayasignificantroleinunderstandingtheinfluenceofclimatechange.Whileclimatechangethreatensmarineresourcesandthecommunitiesthatrelyonthem,nationalmarinesanctuariesareworkingwithpartnerstoeducatethepublicandtosystematicallyintegrateclimatechangeinmanagementandday-to-dayoperations.Inaddition,sanctuariesprovidecoastalcommunitieswithnaturaldefensesagainstclimatechangeimpacts.Theyprotectandrestorecriticalbluecarbonhabitats,suchassaltmarshes,mangrovesandseagrassbeds,thathelpmitigateclimatechangebycapturingandstoringcarbonfromtheatmosphere.Bybeingonthefrontline,sanctuariesareidealplacestofocusclimateresearchandmonitoringandtofindpracticalwaystobuildresiliencetoclimatechange.
AmericanSamoaAmericanSamoaisanunincorporatedterritoryoftheUnitedStatesconsistingoftheeasternpartoftheSamoanarchipelago,locatedinthesouth-centralPacificOcean.Itliesabout1,600miles(2,600km)northeastofNewZealandand2,200miles(3,500km)southwestoftheU.S.stateofHawaiˊi.
AmericanSamoaincludestheinhabitedislandsofTutuila,Manuˊaislands(Taˊu,Olosega,Ofu),andAunuˊu,alongwithanuninhabitedcoralatollnamedRoseIsland.SwainsIsland,aformerlyinhabitedcoralatoll,about280miles(450km)northwestofTutuilaandphysiographicallyseparatefromthearchipelago,wasmadeapartofAmericanSamoain1925.ThecapitalofAmericanSamoaisPagoPago,onTutuila.
The2010censusshowedatotalpopulationof55,519people.Thetotallandareais199squarekilometers(76.8sq.mi),slightlymorethanWashington,D.C.AmericanSamoaisthesouthernmostterritoryoftheU.S.andoneoftwoU.S.territories(withtheuninhabitedJarvisIsland)southoftheEquator(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
Faˊa-Samoa-TheSamoanWayWhileAmericanSamoaistheplacewherethesanctuaryisphysicallylocated,faˊa-Samoaistheculturalcontextforallsanctuaryactivities.Faˊa-SamoaisthetraditionalcommunalSamoan
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lifestyle,orwayoflife.ItisthefoundationofPolynesia'soldestculture-datingbacksome3,000years.Itplacesgreatimportanceonthedignityandachievementsofthegroupratherthanonindividualachievements.Thetraditionalcommunallifestylerevolvesaroundtheaiga,orextendedfamily.Aigaareheadedbyleadingmatai(chief)orSaˊo,whomanagethecommunaleconomy,protectanddistributefamilylands,areresponsibleforthewelfareofallintheiraiga,andrepresentthefamilyincouncils.Evenafterdecadesofforeigninfluence,mostSamoansarefluentintheirnativelanguage,butalsospeakEnglish.
Thesanctuaryteamplacesahighvalueonpartnershipswithcommunitiesandmaintainsgreatrespectforfaˊa-Samoa.InAmericanSamoa,thesanctuary-matairelationshipiscriticaltothesuccessofthispartnership.TheAmericanSamoaOfficeofSamoanAffairshelpsfacilitatethesanctuary'scommunityconsultationsinamannerthatisculturallyappropriateandrespectfuloffaˊa-Samoa.Thisworkincludesconsultationswithsaofaˊigaalenuu(villagecouncilmeeting)andindividualmatai(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
PreparingforClimateChangeIslandsinthePacificregionareamongthemostvulnerableareasintheworldtoimpactsfromclimatechange(Mimuraetal.2007).GivenAmericanSamoa’sisolation,limitedlandarea,andvulnerabilitytoextremeweathereventsandcoastalhazards,thereisacriticalneedtopreparecommunitiesforenvironmentalchangessuchasimpactsfromclimatechange.DuetothetraditionallandtenuresysteminAmericanSamoa,wherelandistiedtochiefly,ormatai,titlesandnotcontrolledbythegovernment,itisnecessarytoengagethechiefsatthevillagelevelinordertocreateaneffectiveresilienceplan.Theneedto“integrateplansatthevillagelevel”wasnotedinthe2012AmericanSamoaCapacityAssessment(Pageetal.2012).Inaddition,theNOAACoralReefConservationProgramnotedthatthereisaneedto“Identify,understand,andcommunicaterisksandvulnerabilityofUScoralreefecosystems,ecosystemservices,anddependenthumancommunitiestoclimatechangeandoceanacidification”inits2009reportentitled“NOAACoralReefConservationProgramGoalsandObjectives2010-2015.”Despitetheseneeds,littlelocalplanningandresourcevulnerabilityassessmentshavebeenconductedtodate.
Localclimatechangeactionstakenthusfarinclude:
1)TheCoralReefAdvisoryGroup(CRAG)wascreatedinAmericanSamoain1994bythreefoundingagencies(AmericanSamoaEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,DepartmentofCommerceandDepartmentofMarineandWildlifeResources)withtwoadditionalgroups(NationalParkofAmericanSamoaandtheAmericanSamoaCommunityCollege’sMarineScienceProgram)joiningin2000.TheCRAGidentifiedfourthreatsas“mostdevastating”tocoralreefsinAmericanSamoa—over-fishing,populationgrowth,developmentpressure/unmanagedlanduse,andclimatechange.Localresearchwassupportedtoexplorethesethreats,includingclimatechange,withterritorialandfederalfunds,andworkshopswereheldtobuildagencycapacityontheseissues,whileworkingtodevelopresponsestrategies.
2)In2007thenGovernorTulafonosignedanexecutiveorderentitled,“ClimateChangeMitigationExecutiveOrder,”whichmandatedthattheAmericanSamoaGovernment(ASG)wouldmakeeffortstoreduceitscarbonfootprintthroughsuchactionsas:IncreasedminimumfuelefficiencyforASGvehicles;nolongerbuying4-wheeldrivevehiclesunlessneeded;increase
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thenumberofhybridvehiclesby5%until50%ofnewASGvehiclesarehybridin2017;banningtheimportationofvehiclesmadebefore1999;requiregasstationstoinstallvaporrecoverynozzles;usecompactflorescentbulbs,encouragingallASGdepartmentstosetuparecyclingprogram,purchasingonlyenergystarappliances,anditbannedtheimportofhighphosphorusdetergentstoreducenutrificationinnearshorewaters.
3)SeveralhighlevelclimatechangeworkshopswereheldinAmericanSamoaafterthe2007ExecutiveOrder,includingoneinApril,2010entitled,“PlanningforClimateChangeintheCoastalandMarineEnvironment,”andanotherinFebruary,2010entitled,“MakingClimateChangeLocal:BuildingResilientCommunitiesinthePacific.”BothoftheseworkshopswereinwholeorpartsponsoredandorganizedbythethenFagateleBayNationalMarineSanctuary(nowNationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoa).
4)AnASGmandatedTerritorialClimateChangeAdaptationWorkingGroupwascreatedinJune,2011.
5)InAugustof2012,thenGovernorTulafonosignedanupdatedexecutiveorder(EO-03-2012)acknowledgingandreaffirmingtheseriousnatureoftheimpactsofclimatechangetoAmericanSamoa,andevenspecificallynotingtheactionsweretakenfromtherecommendationsofthe“MakingClimateChangeLocal:BuildingResilientCommunitiesinthePacific”workshop.Thisexecutiveorderproposedto:banimportofvehiclesolderthantenyears,requiringallnewlypurchasedASGvehiclestobehybrids,requiringallnewlypurchasedASGappliancestobeEnergyStar,banningtheimportationofanydetergentscontainingphosphates,prohibitingtheuseofincandescentlightbulbsandrequiringnewlightingtouselight-emittingdiode(LED)bulbs,orcompactfluorescentbulbsifLEDsaren’tanoption,andrequiresallASGdepartmentstocreatetheirownrecyclingprogram.
6)ATerritorialClimateChangeAdaptationFrameworkandaCommunityClimateChangeResiliencyGuidewascreatedinAugustof2012.
7)In2012air-bornLiDAR-LightDetectionandRanging—aremotesensingmethodusedtoexaminethesurfaceoftheEarth,wasflownovertheislandofTutuila;thiscriticaldatasetisbeingusedtodevelopsealevelrisemodelsforlocalvillages.
8)In2012,thevillageofAmoulicreatedavillageresiliencyplan,asoutlinedintheresiliencyguide.ThiswasaresultofaprojectdrivenbyCo-PrincipleInvestigatorsDr.ArielleLevineandFatimaSauafeaLe’au,withtechnicalassistancefromDr.ChipFletcher.
9)In2012,theFagateleBayNationalMarineSanctuaryFinalManagementPlan/FinalEnvironmentalImpactStatement,thatincludedaClimateChangeActionPlan,werecompleted(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
ClimateChangeImpactsinAmericanSamoaAmericanSamoaclimateischaracterizedbywarm,relativelystableairtemperatures,variableprecipitation,highhumidity,persistentsoutheasttradewinds,andperiodictropicalcycloneactivity(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).RainfallandtradewindsinAmericanSamoaareinfluencedbytheSouthPacificConvergenceZone,alow-pressureareawhichseasonallymovesoverandaroundthearchipelago,resultinginalongrainyseasonfromOctober-May,andaslightlycooleranddrierperiodfromJune-Septemberwithhighersoutheasterlytradewindactivity(Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Tropicalcycloneactivitiesbring
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heavyrainfallandhighwaveactivity,withpeakcycloneactivityoccurringfromDecembertoFebruary(Finucaneetal.2012).
Figure1.MapofthePacificIslandssub-regions(left)andAmericanSamoa(right)(Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
ThePacificIslandsregionexperienceshighinter-annualandinter-decadalclimatevariabilityasaresultoftheElNinoSouthernOscillation(ENSO),thePacificDecadalOscillation(PDO),andtheInter-decadalPacificOscillation(IPO)(Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;ChengandGaskin2011).ENSOevents–includingLaNiña(coldphase)andElNiño(warmphase)–influenceavarietyofregionalclimatefactors,includingtradewindactivity,rainfall,stormtracks,andoceantemperature(Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Theseeventstypicallypersistfor6-18monthsandENSOphaseshiftsoccurevery3-7years(Cane2005).ThePDOhassimilareffectsbecauseitswarmandcoldphasesaltertherelativedominanceofElNiñoandLaNiñaevents.PDOphasestypicallycycleevery20-30years(D’Aleo2005),anditisbelievedthatthePacificIslandsregionhasbeeninacoldPDOphasesince1999;thisphasewilllikelypersistforthenextseveraldecades.TheIPObehavessimilarlytothePDO,affectingthebroadersouthPacific,whereAmericanSamoaislocated(Finucaneetal.2012).Wherepossible,climateinformationspecifictoAmericanSamoaispresented.IntheabsenceofspecificinformationforAmericanSamoa,climatetrendsandprojectionsforSamoa,theCentralSouthPacific,orthePacificIslandsregionasawholearepresented.
AirTemperatureInnearbySamoa,averageannual,minimum,andmaximumairincreasedsignificantlyfrom1950-2009(+0.25°F(+0.14°C),+0.07°F(+0.04°C),and+0.4°F(0.22°C)perdecade,respectively),withthelargestincreasesinmaximumairtemperatures(Young2007;ABMandCSIRO2011).AirtemperaturesareprojectedtocontinueincreasingoverthenextcenturyintheCentralSouthPacific(Young2007;ABMandCSIRO2011).Relativetotemperaturesfrom1971-2000,averageannualsurfacetemperaturesareprojectedtoincrease+1.1-1.3°F(+0.61-0.72°C)by2030,+1.9-2.5°F(+1.06-1.39°C)by2050,and+2.5-4.8°Fby2090(+1.39-2.67°C)(ABMand
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CSIRO2011).Additionally,extremeheatdaysareprojectedbecomemorefrequentandintenseacrossthePacificIslandsregionduringthe21stcentury(Finucaneetal.2012).PotentialimpactsofairtemperatureincreasesonAmericanSamoa’smarineandcoastalresourcesincludeincreasedmangroveheatstressandalteredmangroveforestspeciescomposition,distribution,growthrates,andphenology,alteredtidalflatcommunitycomposition,distribution,andproductivity,increasedevaporation,exacerbatingdroughtstress,alteredbirdmigrationtiming,andshiftsinseaturtlehatchlingsexratios(morefemales)(ParkerandMiller2012;Leongetal.2014).
AnnualandSeasonalPrecipitationTherearefewstableprecipitationmonitoringrecordsforAmericanSamoa,butfromwhatdataareavailable,AmericanSamoahasshownnosignificanttrendinannualprecipitationorwinterone-dayprecipitationvolumesince1965(Leongetal.2014).Similarly,annualandseasonalrainfalltrendsinSamoashowednosignificanttrendsfrom1950-2009(ABMandCSIRO2011).FutureprecipitationprojectionsfortheCentralSouthPacificarehighlyvariableanddisplayconflictingresults(Young2007;ABMandCSIRO2011).However,futureconditionsmayincludenochangetoaslightincreaseinmeanannualprecipitationduringthe21stcentury,withslightprecipitationdecreasesduringthedryseasonandslightprecipitationincreasesduringthewetseason(ABMandCSIRO2011;Keeneretal.2012).Precipitationpatternsareinfluencedbyavarietyoffactorsinadditiontoclimatechange,includingshiftsinENSO,PDO,andIPOphases,andaccordingtolocaltopographyandlocationonagivenisland(Finucaneetal.2012,Leongatal.2014).Forexample,ElNiñoconditionscancauseheavyrainfallordroughtdependingoneventstrengthandislandlocation(Finucaneetal.2012).Asummaryofgeneralphaseeffectsonrainfallandtropicalcycloneactivityarelistedbelow.SummaryofphaseeventinfluencesonprecipitationandtropicalcycloneactivityinAmericanSamoa(ABMandCSIRO2011):
• ElNiño:o Weak:reducedrainfallandtropicalcycloneactivityo Moderate:enhancedrainfallandtropicalcycloneactivity,extendedrainyseasono Strong:reducedrainfall
• LaNiña:o Increasedtropicalcycloneactivityandrainfall
• PDO/IPO:o Warmphases:generallyincreaseElNiñoactivityo Coldphases:generallyincreaseLaNiñaactivity
PotentialimpactsofalteredprecipitationpatternsonAmericanSamoa’smarineandcoastalresourcesinclude:alteredfreshwaterrunoffmagnitudeandtimingtocoastalandnearshoreenvironments(e.g.,lagoons,reefadjacentbays),alteringpollutant,sediment,andnutrientdeliveryandalteredoceansalinityandstratification(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;Parker2012;Leongetal.2014).
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DroughtDroughteventsinSamoaarecorrelatedwithElNiñoevents,butdroughtfrequencyhasnotchangedoverthepast60yearsinSamoa(Young2007;ABMandCSIRO2011)orAmericanSamoa(Keeneretal.2012).DroughtfrequencyinSamoaisunlikelytoexhibitmajorchangeduringthe21stcentury,butthereislowconfidenceinthisprojectionduetopoormodelingofdryseasonprecipitationpatternsintheregion(Young2007).PotentialdroughtimpactsonAmericanSamoa’smarineandcoastalresourcesarereducedfreshwaterresources,particularlyifdroughtiscombinedwithenhancedsaltwaterintrusionandsealevelrise,andthepotentialfordecreasedtourism(ABMandCSIRO2011;ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;Parker2012;Leongetal.2014).
ExtremePrecipitationandTropicalCyclonesTheCentralSouthPacifichasshownnoincreaseinthefrequencyofextremerainfalleventssince1965(Keeneret.al2012).However,tropicalcyclonesaretheprimarysourceofextremeprecipitationintheCentralSouthPacific,andtheproportionoftropicalstormsescalatingintotropicalcyclonesincreasedfrom1991-2010relativeto1970-1990(Parker2012).Extremerainfalleventsarelikelytoincreaseinfrequencyandintensityduringthe21stcentury,andwilllikelycontinuetobecorrelatedwithtropicalcycloneactivity(Young2007;ABMandCSIRO2011).Althoughregion-specificprojectionsarehighlyuncertain(Keeneretal.2012),tropicalcycloneintensityacrossthePacificIslandsisprojectedtoincreaseoverthenext70years(Diamond2012),evenwhileoverallcycloneactivitymaydeclineintheCentralSouthPacificasstormtracksshifttowardtheCentralNorthPacific(ABMandCSIRO2011;Seneviratneetal.2012).Inadditiontorespondingtoseasurfaceandatmospherictemperatures,cycloneactivityisalsocorrelatedwithENSO,PDO,andIPOphaseshifts,makingfutureprojectionsdifficult(Keeneretal.2012).MorefrequentandintenseextremeprecipitationeventsandmoreintensetropicalcyclonescanhaveavarietyofimpactsonAmericanSamoa’smarineandcoastalresources,including1)increasederosion,sedimentation,andpollutionrunoffduringextremeprecipitationevents,reducingwaterqualityandpromotingalgalbloomsinmangroveandcoralreefsystems;2)increasednutrientrunoffandcrown-of-thornsstarfishoutbreaksfollowingstorms;3)increasedriskofwaterbornediseases;4)alteredgeomorphologyofmangrovesforests,coralreefs,andseagrassbeds,reducingcriticalhabitatandprotectionforcoastalcommunities;andincreasedcoastalerosion,potentiallyaffectingimportantculturalresources,nestingseaturtles,andtourism(Parker2012;Leongetal.2014;ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012).
StreamflowThereisverylittlelong-term,reliablestreamflowdataforAmericanSamoa,butthelimiteddataavailablefromTutuilaindicatenosignificanttrendintotalstreamflow,baseflow,orthenumberofextremelow-orhigh-flowdaysoveraperiodof35years(1960-1995)(Keeneretal.2012).TherearenoconcreteprojectionsforstreamflowinAmericanSamoa,althoughstreamflowsarelikelytobeinfluencedbyshiftsinregionalprecipitation.Naturalflowregimesarealsoinfluencedbyhumaninfrastructureanduse(Keeneretal.2012).
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PotentialimpactsofalteredstreamflowsonAmericanSamoa’smarineandcoastalresourcesincludepossiblyreducedstreamfloworincreasedstreamflowdependentonprecipitationeventsanddroughtevents.Reducedstreamflowcanresultinreducednutrientdeliverytonearshoreandcoastalecosystemsandreducedtourismopportunitiesbylimitingfreshwateravailability.Increasedstreamflowcanresultinincreasedsedimentationandpollutantandnutrientdeliverytonearshoreecosystemsinfluencingtourism(Kenneretal.2012;Parker2012;Leongetal.2014).
SeaLevelRiseGlobalsealevelshaverisenoverthepastcentury,althoughexactmagnitudeestimatesvary(ChengandGaskin2011;YuandHamilton2010).Recentestimatesindicatethatglobalsealevelsincreased3.4(+/-0.4mm)peryearfrom1993-2009,representingamuchfasterrateofrisethanduringthe20thcentury(Emanuel2005).Meansealevelrisewas+2.07mmperyearfrom1948-2006inAmericanSamoa,butexhibitedannualvariability(ChengandGaskin2011).TherearenoconcreteprojectionsforsealevelriseinAmericanSamoa(ChengandGaskin2011).However,thePacificIslandsregionwilllikelyexperiencesimilarratesofsealevelriseasglobalaverages,withapotentialincreasebetween0.2to2mby2100dependingongreenhousegasemissionscenariosandratesoficesheetloss(Marraetal.2012).Mirroringincreasesinmeansealevel,thePacificIslandsregionwilllikelyexperienceanincreasedfrequencyofextremesealevelevents.BasedonpasttrendsobservedatPagoPago,extremesealeveleventswilllikelybedrivenbyhightides(Marraetal.2012)andextremeweather(e.g.,cyclones).Additionally,localratesofsealevelrisewilllikelyvaryaccordingtolanddynamics(subsidence,uplifting),phasechangesofENSOandthePDO,windpatterns,andstormactivity.Forexample,somecommunitiesinAmericanSamoa(e.g.,PagoPago)maybesubsiding,whichwillincreaserelativelocalratesofsealevelrise(Lietal.2010).EnergeticENSOphasescanraiselocalsealevelsby6-12inches(15-31cm),andstormwindscanraisewaterlevelsseveralinchestomultiplefeet(Keeneretal.2012).Additionally,shiftsintradewindactivitycanalterrelativeratesofsealevelrise,andarethoughttohavecontributedtothehigherratesofsealevelriseinthewesternPacificrelativetoglobaltrendsfrom1993-2010(Neremetal.2010;ChengandGaskin2011;Marraetal.2012).PotentialimpactsofsealevelriseandextremesealeveleventsonAmericanSamoa’smarineandcoastalresourcesinclude:
• Altereddistributionandavailabilityofcoastalandnearshorehabitatsduetoalteredinundationtiminganderosion,includingsandybeaches,shallowcoralreefs,seagrassbeds,intertidalflats,andmangroveforests(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;Leong2014)
• Enhancedfloodinganderosionoflow-lyingcoastalareas,potentiallyaffectingrecreation,tourism,andimportantculturalresources(ParkerandMiller2012)
• Reducedmangroveforestextentandassociatednurseryhabitatandecosystemservices(coastalprotection,waterpurification)(ParkerandMiller2012;Leongetal.2012)
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• Reducedseabirdbreedingandseaturtlenestinghabitat(ParkerandMiller2012;Leongetal.2012)
• Enhancedsaltwaterintrusioninaquifersandgroundwaterstorageareas,particularlyonlowerislands(ParkerandMiller2012;Leongetal.2012)
• Increasedsalinityinfreshwaterandbrackishwetlands(ParkerandMiller2012;Leongetal.2012)
• Reducedupwardcoralgrowth(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;Leong2014)
• Enhancederosionandre-suspensionofseabedsediment,increasingsedimentationandturbidityamongreefs(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;Leong2014)
WaveHeightFewlong-termrecordsofwaveheightexistforthePacificIslandsregion(Youngetal.2011;Seneviratneetal.2012).Futurewaveconditionsaredifficulttoprojectduetotheuncertaintyunderlyingfuturestormpatternsinachangingclimate(Marraetal.2012),butwithinthePacificIslandsregion,annualmeanwaveheightsareprojectedtoincreaseinthesoutherntropicalPacific,anddecreaseinotherPacificareas(Hermeretal.2010).PotentialimpactsofshiftingwaveheightsonAmericanSamoa’scoastalandmarineresourcesincludealteredcoraldistribution,increasedcoralerosion,changesreefgrowthpatterns,andincreasedcoastalerosion(ParkerandMiller2012;Leongetal.2014).
SeaSurfaceTemperatureSincethe1970s,seasurfacetemperaturesinthePacificIslandsregionhaveincreased+0.13-0.41°F(+0.07-0.23°C)perdecadedependingonlocation(ABMandCSIRO2011).AmericanSamoahasalsoexhibitedwarmingtrends(althoughexactratesaren’tavailable)andSamoaexhibitedatemperatureincreaseof+0.14°F(+0.08°C)perdecadefrom1970-2011(ABMandCSIRO2011;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).SeasurfacetemperatureinthePacificIslandsregionisprojectedtocontinueincreasingoverthenextcentury,potentiallyincreasing+1.1-1.7°F(+0.61-0.94°C)by2030,+1.8-2.3°F(+1.0-1.28°C)by2055,and+2.5-4.7°F(+1.39-2.61°C)by2090,dependingonemissionstrajectoriesandphasechangesofENSO,thePDO,andtheIPO(ABMandCSIRO2011;Finucaneetal.2012;Marraetal.2012).PotentialimpactsofincreasedseasurfacetemperaturesonAmericanSamoa’scoastalandmarineresourcesincludethefollowing:
• Morefrequentandintensecoralbleachingevents(e.g.,annualsummerbleachevents)andincreasedsusceptibilitytofuturebleachingepisodes(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;Leongatal.2014);
• Increasedcoralmortality(larvalandadultstages)anddiseaseincidence(e.g.,coralbleaching)(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;Leongetal.2014);
• Suppressedcoralreefreproductionandalteredpopulationconnectivity,potentiallyunderminingrecoveryfrombleachingevents(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;Leongetal.2014);
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• Potentialshiftsincoraldistribution(e.g.,shifttowarddeeperlocationsandareaswithhighwaterflowtoamelioratethermalstress)(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;Leongetal.2014);
• Altereddistributionandreduceddiversity,recruitment,andabundanceofreeffishes;• Increasedreeffishdiseasevulnerabilityviasuppressedimmunesystemfunction(Cheng
andGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012)• Alteredinvertebratelarvaldevelopmentandtransport(ChengandGaskin2011;
Finucaneetal.2012);• Lossofecosystemservicesprovidedbycoralreefs(e.g.,subsistenceandcommercial
fisheries,tourism,coastalprotection)(Leongetal.2014);• Rangeexpansionsofwarm-waterspecies(ParkerandMiller2012);• Declineofseagrasssystems,includingshiftsinspeciesdistribution,sexualreproduction,
carbondynamics,andgrowthrates(ChengandGaskin2012;Leongetal.2014);• Declineofmangrovesystems(ChengandGaskin2012;Leongetal.2014);• Alteredoceanicspeciesdistribution(includingadultsandlarvae)andcomposition,
potentiallyaffectingfisheries(stockabundanceandaccess)(Leongetal.2014);• Alteredstratification,resultinginshiftsinphoticzonenutrientavailabilityand
phytoplanktonsize,abundance,anddiversity,contributingoceanicfoodwebshifts(Leongetal.2014);
• Increaseddominanceofdinoflagellatesoverotherphytoplanktonandpotentialincreaseintoxicandnon-toxicdinoflagellateblooms(Leongetal.2014);and
• Increasedvulnerabilitytomarineinvasivespecies(ChengandGaskin2011;Finucaneetal.2012;USDOCNOAAONMS2012;Leongatal.2014).
OceanAcidificationOceanacidificationhasbeenprogressingacrossthePacificIslandsregionoverthepastseveralcenturies,andaccordingtoestimatesfortheSamoaregionthearagonitesaturationstateinthelate18thcenturywas4.5,whereasitwasmeasuredat4.1in2000(ABM&CSIRO2011).Coralformationoccursoptimallyatsaturationstatesabove4.0,decliningtoextremelymarginalproductionatlevelsatandbelow3.0(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Regionaloceanwatersareprojectedtobecomemoreacidicinthefuture,andthearagonitesaturationstateisprojectedtofallbelow3.5intheregionby2060,andcontinuedecliningthereafter(ABM&CSIRO2011).PotentialimpactsofoceanacidificationonAmericanSamoa’scoastalandmarineresourcesinclude:reducedcalcificationincorals,crustaceans,mollusks,echinoderms,andothertaxa,reducedcoralformation,growth,diversity,abundance,health,andrecruitment,shiftsincompetitiveinteractionsamongstcoraltaxa,alteringreefcomplexity,increasedmacroalgae(fleshyalgae)growth,alteredoceanicspeciesdistributionasphytoplanktonproductivityanddistributionchanges,potentiallyaffectingfisheries,andreducedcoastalprotectionfromwaveenergyandoverwashifreefstructuresdecline(Chengetal.2011;ParkerandMiller2012;Leongetal.2014).
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Chapter2 VulnerabilityAssessmentandAdaptationPlanning:MethodsandWorkshopActivities
OverviewClimatechangevulnerabilityassessmentsprovidetwokindsofinformation:(1)theyidentifywhichresourcesarelikelytobemostaffectedbychangingclimateconditions,and(2)theyimproveunderstandingastowhytheseresourcesarelikelytobevulnerable.Knowingwhichresourcesaremostvulnerablebetterenablesmanagerstodevelopadaptationstrategiesandsetprioritiesforconservationaction(Glicketal.2011).Thisvulnerabilityassessmentandadaptationstrategyreportisaninitialscience-basedefforttoidentifyhowandwhyfocalresources(habitats,species,andecosystemservices)acrosstheAmericanSamoaarelikelytobeaffectedbyfutureclimateconditionsoverthenext20yearsandwhataresomestrategiesandoptionsforreducingthosevulnerabilities.ThisreportincludestheresultsoftwoworkshopstoassessStep1throughStep3oftheAdaptationPlanningProcess(seeFigure2).Step1includedtheidentificationofconservationseffortsfor10focalresources,Step2includedtheassessmentofthevulnerabilityofthosefocalresources,andStep3includedtheidentificationofmanagementoptionstoreducethosevulnerabilitiesthatwereidentifiedinStep2.
Figure2.Adaptationplanningprocess(Glicketal.2011).
Developingresilientmanagementoptionstodecreasevulnerabilitiesrequiresimplementingavarietyofadaptationoptions.Mostadaptationoptionsfallintothefollowingfivemaincategories:
1. EnhanceResistance.Implementationofthesestrategiescanhelptopreventtheeffectsofclimatechangefromreachingoraffectingaresource.Commonresistanceactionsincludethosedesignedtoreducenon-climatestressors.
2. PromoteResilience.Thesestrategiescanhelparesourcewithstandtheimpactsofclimatechangebyavoidingtheeffectsoforrecoveringfromchanges.
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3. FacilitateTransition(orResponse).Transitionorresponsestrategiesintentionallyaccommodatechangeandenableresourcestoadaptivelyrespondtochangingandnewconditions.
4. IncreaseKnowledge.Thesestrategiesareaimedatgatheringmoreinformationaboutclimatechanges,impacts,and/ortheeffectivenessofmanagementactionsinaddressingthechallengesofclimatechange.
5. EngageCoordination.Coordinationstrategiesmayhelpalignbudgetsandprioritiesforprogramsofworkacrosslandsorestablishorexpandcollaborativemonitoringeffortsorprojects,amongothers.
STEP1:IdentifyConservationTargets-FocalResourceSelectionAtotalof10focalresourceswereselectedfromalistof6habitats,12species,and3ecosystemservicesvaluedinAmericanSamoa.Sanctuarystaff,villageleaders,advisorycouncilmembers,scientists,andmanagerswereaskedeightquestionstoselecttheresourcesmostimpactedbyclimatechangewithasurvey.Thequestionsforconsiderationswhenpickingthefocalresourcesincluded:
1. Istheresourcelistedasthreatened,endangeredorsensitive?2. Istheresourceconsideredtobeecologicallyfoundational,adominantspecies,an
ecosystemengineer,akeystonespecies,anumbrellaspecies,animportantindicator,orstronginteractor?
3. Doestheresourcehavesubstantialorsignificantmanagementimplications?4. Doestheresourcehavesignificantotherstressorsalreadyaffectingviability?5. Doestheresourcehaveavailabledataandinformationuponwhichtodothe
vulnerabilityassessment?6. Istheresourceconsideredtobecontroversialorrare?7. Doestheresourcehavesocio-economicsignificance(forexample,isitaflagshipspecies
ordoesithaveculturaloreconomicvalue)?8. Istheresourcelikelytobesignificantlyimpactedbyclimatechange?
Thefinalfocalresourcesselectedincluded2combinedhabitats,coralreefhabitat(reefflat,reefcrest,reefslope,mesophoticreefs)andmangrove/lagoonhabitat;7speciesassemblages,charismaticfish,herbivorousfish,piscivorousfish,pelagicfish,sharksandrays,giantclams,andseaturtles;and1ecosystemservice,waterquality.
STEP2:VulnerabilityAssessmentWorkshopandMethodsThevulnerabilityassessmentcomprisesthreecomponents:1)sensitivity,2)adaptivecapacity,and3)exposure,forfocalresources,whichareaveragedbyrankingsforthosecomponents,andconfidencescoresforthoserankings.Thesensitivity,adaptivecapacity,andexposurecomponentseachincludemultiplefinerresolutionelementsthatwereaddressedindividually.Sensitivityinvolvesfactorsthatcurrentlyshapespecies,habitat,orecosystemservicetoclimateandclimatedrivenfactors(e.g.,airandseatemperature,precipitation,drought,tropicalstorms,streamflow,coastalerosion,ENSO),sensitivitytodisturbanceregimes(e.g.,disease,crown-of-thornsstarfish),andsensitivitytonon-climatestressors(e.g.,landusechange,overfishing,nutrientloading).Adaptivecapacityelementsincludeextent,status,and
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dispersalability;specieslifehistorydiversity,geneticdiversity,behavioralplasticity,andphenotypicplasticity;speciesabilitytoresistandrecoverfromstressors;andspeciesmanagementpotential.Toassessexposure,participantswereaskedtoidentifytheclimateandclimate-drivenchangesmostrelevanttoconsiderforthespecies,habitats,andecosystemservicesandtoevaluatehowtheywouldexperiencetothosechanges.Aclimatechangetrendsandprojectionstablewasprovidedtoparticipantstofacilitatethisevaluation(SeeAppendixIII).
VulnerabilityTerminologyandDefinitions:1. Vulnerability:Afunctionofthesensitivityofaparticularresourcetochangesinclimate
changes,itsexposuretothosechanges,anditscapacitytoadapttothosechanges(IPCC2007).
2. Sensitivity:Theclimateandclimate-drivenfactorsthatcurrentlyshapethespecies,habitatorecosystemservices.
3. Exposure:Considerationoffuturechangesinclimatethatcouldaffectthespecies,habitat,orecosystemservice.
4. AdaptiveCapacity:Theabilityofanindividual,community,orecosystemtorespondoradapttochange;thisreflectsintrinsictraits(e.g.,behavioralorphysiologicalflexibilitythatallowsindividualstorespondtonewsituations)andextrinsicfactors(e.g.,degreeofhabitatfragmentation,managementpotential).
Figure3.Visualrepresentationofthevulnerabilityassessmentprocess.
HabitatVulnerabilityAssessmentCriteria:Sensitivity,Exposure,andAdaptiveCapacity1. ClimateandClimateDriveFactors:Therearetwowaystoassesshabitatsensitivity:
a. whetherhabitatexistsinarelativelynarrowzone,andthusbeingmoresensitive,orexistsinarelativelybroadclimaticzone,thusbeinglesssensitive;
b. whetherthehabitatexperienceslargechangesincompositionorstructureduetosmallchangesinclimateorclimate-drivenfactors,andthusismoresensitive;orthehabitatexperiencessmallchangesevenwithlargerchangesinclimateorclimate-drivenfactors,andthisislesssensitive.
2. DisturbanceRegimes:Naturaldisturbanceregimeisaconceptthatdescribesthepatternofdisturbancesthatshapeanecosystemoveralongtimescale.Itisdistinguishedfromasingledisturbanceeventbecauseitdescribesaspatialdisturbance
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pattern,frequencyandintensityofdisturbances,andaresultingecologicalpatternoverspaceandtime.Moresensitivehabitatswillshowlargerchangesincompositionorstructureinresponsetorelativelysmallclimate-drivenchangesindisturbanceregimes.Conversely,itwouldtakemuchlargerclimate-drivenchangesindisturbanceregimestoelicitasubstantialchangeincompositionorstructureinlesssensitivehabitats.Changesindisturbanceregimesmaybeeithergoodorbadforthehabitat.
3. FutureClimateExposure:Exposureinvolvesfutureclimatechangesthatcouldaffectthehabitatandthelikelydegreeofexposuretothosechanges,includingincreasedairandseatemperatures,decreasedpH,alteredcurrents,andstorms.
4. SensitivityandCurrentExposuretoNon-ClimateStressors:Sensitivityofthehabitattoclimatechangeimpactsmaybehighlyinfluencedbytheexistence,extentof,andcurrentexposuretonon-climatestressors.Althoughahabitatmaybesensitivetoanon-climatestressor,ifitisnotcurrentlyexposedtoit,theoverallsensitivityofthehabitatmaybelower.
5. Extent,Integrity,andContinuity:Habitatsthatarecurrentlywidespreadintheirgeographicextent,withhighintegrityandcontinuitymayhavegreateradaptivecapacity,maybemorelikelytowithstandnon-climateandclimatestressors,andmaypersistintothefuture.Habitatsthataredegraded,isolated,limitedinextent,orcurrentlydecliningduetonon-climateandclimatestressorsmayhavelessadaptivecapacity,andmaybelesslikelytopersistintothefuture.
6. ResistanceandRecovery:Somehabitatsmaybemoreresistanttochanges,stressors,ormaladaptivehumanresponses,orareabletorecovermorequicklyfromstressors;thesehabitatslikelyexhibithigheradaptivecapacity.Thismayincludehabitatdiversityordiversephysicalandtopographicalcharacteristics(e.g.,varietyinaspects),whichmayconferhigheradaptivecapacity.
7. ManagementPotential:Managementpotentialreflectstheabilitytoimpacttheadaptivecapacityandresilienceofahabitattochangesinclimatethroughactionstakenbythehumancommunityoverseeingahabitat.
SpeciesVulnerabilityAssessmentCriteria:Sensitivity,Exposure,andAdaptiveCapacity1. ClimateandClimate-DrivenFactors:Speciessensitivitytoclimateandclimate-driven
factorsmaybedirect(e.g.,physiological,phenological)orindirect(e.g.,ecologicalrelationships).
a. Physiologicalsensitivityreferstoaspecies’physiologicalabilitytotoleratechangesthatarehigherorlowerthantherangethattheyhaveexperiencedorcurrentlyexperience.Speciesthatareabletotolerateawiderangeofclimaticfactorsmaybeconsideredlesssensitive.
b. Phenologicalsensitivityreferstoaspecies’abilitytophenologicallytrackclimate(e.g.,timingofreoccurringthermalevents).Speciesthatcannotphenologicallytrackenvironmentalchangesmaybeconsideredmoresensitive.
c. Species’ecologicalrelationshipsmayalsobeaffectedbyclimateorclimate-drivenfactors.Ecologicalrelationshipscaninclude:predator/prey,foraging,competition,habitat,pollination,dispersal,symbiont/mutualist/parasite,andothers.Ecologicalrelationshipssignificantlyaffectedbysmallchangesinclimateandclimate-drivenfactorsmayhavehighersensitivity.
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2. DisturbanceRegime:Naturaldisturbanceregimeisaconceptthatdescribesthepatternofdisturbancesthatshapeanecosystemoveralongtimescale;itisdistinguishedfromasingledisturbanceeventbecauseitdescribesaspatialdisturbancepattern,afrequencyandintensityofdisturbances,andaresultingecologicalpatternoverspaceandtime.Speciesmaybeatgreaterriskofdeclineoreliminationeveninresponsetosmallchangesindisturbanceregimes.Forexample,increasingwatertemperaturescanalterbleachinganddiseasepatternsincoralreefswhichmaycauseshiftsfromcoraltoalgaldominatedsystems.Changesindisturbanceregimesmaybeeithergoodorbadforthespecies.
3. FutureClimateExposure:Climateexposureinvolvesprojectedfuturechangesinclimatethatcouldaffectthespeciesandthelikelihoodthataspecieswillexperiencethosechanges,includingincreasedairandseatemperature,decreasedpH,alteredcurrents,andstorms.
4. Dependencies:Speciesthatusemultiplehabitatsorutilizemultiplepreyorforagespeciesmaybelesssensitivetoclimatechange(e.g.,generalists).Conversely,specieswithverynarrowhabitatneedsorhabitatspecialization,singlepreyorforagespecies,ordependenceonanothersensitivespeciesmayhaveahigherlikelihoodofdeclineifclimatechangesignificantlyaffectsthehabitatorspeciestheyaredependentupon(e.g.,specialists).
5. SensitivityandCurrentExposuretoNon-ClimateStressors:Sensitivityofthespeciestoclimatechangeimpactsmaybehighlyinfluencedbytheexistence,extentof,andcurrentexposuretonon-climatestressors.Althoughaspeciesmaybesensitivetoanon-climatestressor,ifitisnotcurrentlyexposedtoit,theoverallsensitivityofthespeciesmaybelower.
6. Extent,Status,andDispersalAbility:Speciesthatarecurrentlywidespreadintheirgeographicextent,witharobustpopulationstatus,connectivity,andahighabilitytodispersemayhavehigheradaptivecapacity.Thesespeciesmaybemorelikelytowithstandandpersistintothefuturedespiteclimaticandnon-climaticstressors.Speciesthatareendemic,threatenedorendangered,occurasisolatedorfragmentedpopulations,and/orexhibitlimitedabilitytodispersemayhaveloweradaptivecapacity.
7. Intraspecific/LifeHistoryDiversity:a. Lifehistorydiversity:Specieswithadiversityoflifehistorystrategies(e.g.,
variationsinageatmaturity,reproductiveornurseryhabitatuse,orresourceuse)maybemoreresilienttoclimatechange.
b. Geneticdiversity:Specieswithcharacteristicssuchasfastergenerationtimes,geneticdiversity,heritabilityoftraits,largerpopulationsize,ormultiplepopulationswithconnectivityamongthemtoallowforgeneflowmayexhibithigheradaptivecapacity.
c. Phenotypicandbehavioralplasticity:Specieswiththecapacitytoexpressdifferenttraits(e.g.,phenology,behavior,physiology)inresponsetoenvironmentalvariationmayhavehigheradaptivecapacity.Forexample,manyspeciesexhibitphenotypeplasticityinresponsetointer-annualvariationintemperatureandprecipitation.
8. Resistance:Somespeciesmaybemoreresistanttochanges,stressors,ormaladaptivehumanresponses;thesespeciesmayexhibithigheradaptivecapacity.
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9. ManagementPotential:Managementpotentialreflectstheabilitytoenhancetheadaptivecapacityandresilienceofaspeciestochangesinclimaticthroughactionstakenbythehumancommunityoverseeingaresource.
EcosystemServiceVulnerabilityAssessmentCriteria:Sensitivity,Exposure,andAdaptiveCapacity
1. Sensitivityinvolvesfactorsthatcurrentlyshapeecosystemservices;exposureinvolvesfutureclimatechangesthatcouldaffecttheecosystemservice,andiscoveredinanothersectionbelow.Ecosystemservicesensitivitymaylargelybedeterminedbythesensitivitiesofthosecomponents(e.g.,species,habitat,hydrology,etc.)thatprovideorsupporttheservice.Forexample,thesensitivityof“marinefisheries”asanecosystemserviceissignificantlydeterminedbythesensitivityofthetargetspeciesclimateandclimate-drivenfactors(e.g.,pHortemperature).Similarly,thesensitivityofrecreationasanecosystemserviceisdependentonthesensitivityoftargetspecies(e.g.,birdsforbird-watching)orhabitat(e.g.,beachesforsunbathing).
2. DisturbanceRegime:Naturaldisturbanceregimeisaconceptthatdescribesthepatternofdisturbancesthatshapeanecosystemoveralongtimescale;itisdistinguishedfromasingledisturbanceeventbecauseitdescribesaspatialdisturbancepattern,afrequencyandintensityofdisturbances,andaresultingecologicalpatternoverspaceandtime.Moresensitiveecosystemservicesmayshowsignificantchangesintheirabilitytobeprovidedinresponsetorelativelysmallclimate-drivenchangesindisturbanceregimes(e.g.,increaseddiseasesinshellfishleadingtoharvestrestrictionsand/orclosures).
3. FutureClimateExposure:Climateexposureinvolvesprojectedfutureclimatechangesthatcouldaffecttheserviceandthelikelydegreeofexposuretothosechanges.
4. SensitivityandCurrentExposuretoNon-ClimateStressors:Sensitivityoftheservicetoclimatechangeimpactsmaybehighlyinfluencedbytheexistence,extentof,andcurrentexposuretonon-climatestressors.Althoughaservicemaybesensitivetoanon-climatestressor,ifitisnotcurrentlyexposedtoit/affectedbyit,theoverallsensitivityoftheservicewillbelower.
5. IntrinsicValueandManagementPotential:Intrinsicvalueconsiderssocietalvalueoftheservice,includingwhetherornotpeoplewouldbewillingtochangebehaviortocontinueaccesstoandconditionoftheservice.Managementpotentialreflectsourabilitytoaffecttheadaptivecapacityandresilienceofanecosystemservicetoclimaticchangesthroughactionstakenbythehumancommunityoverseeinganecosystemservice.
VulnerabilityAssessmentWorkshopActivitiesDuringtheJuly2016workshop,2participantswereaskedtoevaluatethevulnerabilityforall10ofthefocalresources.Thetwo-dayworkshopprovidedparticipantswithbaselineknowledgeandunderstandingofclimatetrends(current,historic,projectedfuture)forAmericanSamoa
2http://ecoadapt.org/workshops/NMSAS-VA-workshop
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andcollectivelyassessedvulnerabilitiesofhabitats,species,andecosystemservicestoclimatechangeincludingevaluatingsensitivity,exposure,andadaptivecapacity.Thevulnerabilityassessmentmodelusedinthisprocesscomprisesthreevulnerabilitycomponents(i.e.sensitivity,adaptivecapacity,andexposure),confidenceevaluationsforallcomponents,andoverallvulnerabilityandconfidenceforeachfocalresource.Sensitivity,exposure,andadaptivecapacitycomponentswerebrokendownintospecificelementsbettersuitedtoassessingthevulnerabilityofparticularresourcesforthisassessment.Sensitivityelementsforhabitatsandecosystemservicesinclude:directsensitivitytoclimate,climate-drivenchanges,andnon-climatestressors.Disturbanceregimesandnon-climatestressorsarealsoincludedinspeciessensitivity;however,severalotherelementsarebettersuitedtoassessingspecies’sensitivityincluding:generalist/specialist,physiology,lifehistory,ecologicalrelationships,anddependenceonsensitivehabitats.Duringtheworkshop,participantsassignedaranking(1-lowto5-high)toeachfinerresolutionelementforsensitivity,exposure,andadaptivecapacity,andprovidedacorrespondingconfidencescore(e.g.,1-lowto3-high)totherankingforallfocalresources.Theseindividualrankingsandconfidencescoreswerethenaveragedtogeneraterankingsandconfidencescoresforeachvulnerabilitycomponent(i.e.,sensitivity,adaptivecapacity,exposurescore).Resultspresentedinarange(e.g.,frommoderatetohigh)reflectvariabilityassessedbyparticipants.Pleasenotethatparticipantsfeltthatitwasbesttofocusonfutureclimateandclimate-drivenchangesforoverthenext20yearsratherthan50-100yearsbecauseparticipantsfelttheyneededmoreinformationtoassessvulnerabilityoveralongertimeframe.Rankingsforeachvulnerabilitycomponent(i.e.,sensitivity,adaptivecapacity,exposure)werethencombinedintoanoverallvulnerabilityscorethatwascalculatedasfollows:
Vulnerability=(ClimateExposure+ClimateSensitivity)–(AdaptiveCapacity)
STEP3:AdaptationPlanningWorkshopandMethodsTheadaptationstrategyplanningprocessconsistsofanalysisofvulnerabilitiesofcurrentmanagementgoals,strategies,andactionsandanassessmentonwaystheycanbemoreresilientandlessvulnerabletoclimateandnon-climatestressors.Italsoconsistedofbrainstormingnewgoals,strategiesandactionsthatcanhelptheresourcebecomemoreresilientandlessvulnerabletoclimateandnon-climatestressors.
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Figure4.Visualrepresentationoftherelationshipbetweenadaptationgoals,strategies,andspecificactions.
AdaptationTerminologyandDefinitionsAdaptationGoal:Adesiredresultforagivenresource.
Adaptationstrategy:Generalstatementsofhowtoreducevulnerabilitiesorincreaseresilienceofcurrentmanagementgoals.
Adaptationactions:Specificactivitiesthatfacilitateprogresstowardsachievinganadaptationstrategy.
AdaptationStrategyWorkshopActivitiesTheSeptember2016adaptationplanningworkshop3goalsweretodevelopclimate-informedadaptationstrategiesandactionstoconservepriorityresourcesintheNationalMarineSanctuaryandTerritoryofAmericanSamoa.Participantsidentifiedbothcurrentandfuturemanagementgoalsforeachofthefocalresources.Thepurposeofidentifyingcurrentmanagementgoalsistoprovideafoundationforevaluatingwhetherandhowclimatechangemightaffecttheabilitytoachieveagivengoal,andtodevelopoptionsforreducingvulnerabilitiesthroughrevisedmanagementactivities.Foreachmanagementgoal,participantsidentifiedpotentialclimatechangevulnerabilities.Thisactivitywasfollowedbytheevaluationofcurrentmanagementactions,includingwhether,intheircurrentform,theycanhelptoreduceidentifiedvulnerabilitiesand/orhowtheycanbemodifiedtobetteraddressclimatechallenges.Followingtheevaluationofpotentialvulnerabilitiesofcurrentmanagementgoalsandactions,participantsexploredpotentialfuturemanagementgoalsandadaptationstrategiesandidentifiedmorespecificadaptationactionsdesignedtoreducevulnerabilitiesorincreaseresilienceoftheselectedfocalresources.Foreachadaptationaction,participantsthenevaluatedwhere,when,andhowtoimplementthoseactionsaswellascollaborationandcapacityneeds.
3http://ecoadapt.org/workshops/NMSAS-AS-workshop
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CurrentManagementGoalsandPotentialVulnerabilitiesWorkshopparticipantsidentifiedkeycurrentmanagementgoalsandtheirpotentialclimateandnon-climatevulnerabilities.Inresponsetothesevulnerabilities,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornotexistingmanagementactionsmaybeeffectiveinreducingvulnerability;identifiedwhat,ifany,climateandnon-climatevulnerabilitiestheactionhelpsreduce;andevaluatedthefeasibilityofactionimplementation.Givenactioneffectivenessandfeasibility,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornottocontinueimplementationoftheaction.Forthoseactionsrecommendedforcontinuedimplementation,participantsthenidentifiedbothhowandwheretoimplement.
FutureManagementGoalsandAdaptationActionsWorkshopparticipantsalsoidentifiedthepossiblefuturemanagementgoalsandadaptationactionsforeachresource.Theythenevaluatedactioneffectivenessandfeasibility;identifiedthetimeframeforactionimplementation;describedwhereandhowtoimplementtheaction;andidentifiedcollaborationandcapacityneeds.Timeframe,collaborationandcapacityneedsaredefinedbelow.
• Implementationtimeframe:Identifywhenaparticularactioncouldfeasiblybeimplemented.
o Near-term:<5years;Mid-term:5-15years;orLong-term:>15years.• Collaboration:Identifyanyotheragencies,organizations,orpeopleneededto
collaboratewithinordertoimplementanaction.• Capacityneeded:Identifycapacityneededforimplementationsuchasdata,stafftime
andresources,funding,orpolicychanges,amongothers.Theseworkshopactivitiesgeneratedarangeofrecommendedadaptationactionsthatcouldbeimplementedbothnowandinthefuture.Theresultingactionsarenotcomprehensive,andusersofthisreportareencouragedtoexploreadditionaladaptationactionsthatmayhelpreducevulnerabilities,increaseresilience,orcapitalizeonopportunitiespresentedbyclimatechange.
AdaptationActionFeasibilityParticipantswerealsoaskedtoassesstheeffectiveness,feasibility,andimplementationofallactionsidentified.TheseassessmentshelpidentifywhichactionscanbeeasilyimplementedandthosethatmightneedmorecollaborationandlongertimeframestohelpdevelopanimplementationplaninSTEP4oftheAdaptationPlanningProcess.Participantswereaskedtoidentifythefollowing:
• Actioneffectiveness:Identifytheeffectivenessoftheactioninreducingvulnerability.o High:actionisverylikelytoreducevulnerabilityandmaybenefitadditionalgoals
orhabitatso Moderate:actionhasmoderatepotentialtoreducevulnerability,withsome
limitstoeffectivenesso Low:actionisunlikelytoreducevulnerability
• Actionfeasibility:Identifyfeasibilityofimplementingtheaction.
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o High:therearenoobviousbarriersandithasahighlikelihoodofbeingimplemented
o Moderate:itmaybepossibletoimplementtheaction,althoughtheremaybechallengesorbarriers
o Low:thereareobviousand/orsignificantbarrierstoimplementationthatmaybedifficulttoovercome
• Howtoimplement:Identifyhowtoapplythisactiongivenvulnerabilities.Forexample,considerplantingnativespeciesthatcancopewitharangeoffutureconditionsorthosebestadaptedtoprojectedfutureconditions.
• Wheretoimplement:Identifythemanagement,ecological,orsiteconditionswheretheactioncouldbemostappropriatelyimplemented.Forexample,isitbesttoimplementincoralhabitatsthatareresilienttobleaching.
Chapter3 VulnerabilityAssessmentandAdaptationPlanningResults
SummaryOverallthevulnerabilityassessmentofthe10focalresourceswasmoderatetolow-moderatewithmostlyhighandmoderateconfidencescores.Thisisprobablyduetolimited20-yeartimeframethatparticipantschosetouseratherthanconsideringmultiplescenariosandtimestepsof10,20,50,and100years(Glicketal.2011).Iflongertimeframeswereusedforthisvulnerabilityassessment,onewouldexpecthighervulnerabilityandlowerconfidencescores.FOCALRESOURCE VULNERABILITYSCORE CONFIDENCESCORE
CoralReefHabitat Moderate High
MangroveHabitat Low-Moderate High
WaterQuality Moderate High
GiantClam Moderate High
HerbivoreReefFish Low-Moderate High
CharismaticReefFish Low-Moderate High
ReefPiscivores Low-Moderate High
PelagicFish Moderate High
SharksandRays Low-Moderate Moderate
SeaTurtles Moderate Moderate
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1.CoralReefHabitat
IntroductionCoralreefsinAmericanSamoaincludethreezones:reefflat,reefcrest,andreefslope.Reefflatsareshallowandnarrow(50-500m)systemsextendingfromshoretothereefcrest.Reefcrestsareshallowsystemsrepresentingthehighestpointofthereefsystemanddividingreefflatfromslope;theyareoccasionallyexposedduringlowtides,asarereefflats.Reefslopesdescend20-30mindepthontheoceanicsideofthereefcrest.Differencesintemperature,salinity,waveaction,waterdepth,andsedimentationbetweenthesethreezonesaffectscoralcommunitycomposition.However,AmericanSamoancoralreefcommunitiesaregenerallydominatedbycrustosecorallinealgaewithlivehardcoralsbeinglessdominant,andbrownmacroalgaeoccasionallyoccurringonreefslopesandflats(Fenneretal.2008;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).UniquecoralcommunitiesoccuratRoseAtollandSwainsIsland(Kendall2011;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Ingeneral,coralreefsystemsharborhighbiodiversity(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
VulnerabilityAssessmentResultsWorkshopparticipantsevaluatedcoralreefsinAmericanSamoatohaveamoderaterelativevulnerabilitytoclimatechangeduetomoderate-highsensitivitytoclimateandnon-climatestressors,moderateexposuretofutureclimatechanges,andmoderate-highadaptivecapacity.Coralreefsaresensitivetonumerousclimatestressors,includingoceanacidification,seasurfacetemperature,tropicalstorms,runoff/streamflow,coastalerosion,andcurrents,mixing,andstratification.Thesestressorsdirectlyaffectcoralsurvival,recruitment,andgrowth,aswellasalterwaterqualitybyaffectingsediment,pollutant,andnutrientdelivery.Climatestressorsmayalsoincreasecoralsusceptibilitytodisturbanceregimes,includingdiseaseandcrown-of-thornsstarfishoutbreaks,whichelevatecoralmortality.Coralreefsaresensitivetoseveralnon-climatestressors,includingdredging,landusechange,overwater/underwaterstructures,nutrientloading,sedimentation,trampling,seawalls,andfishing.Non-climatestressorscandirectlydegradeanddestroycoralcommunities,andwilllikelycompounddecliningwaterqualitytrendsoccurringwithclimatechange.CoralreefsinAmericanSamoaaregenerallyhealthyandcontinuousaroundislands,andhavebeenabletorecoverfromavarietyofpastenvironmentaldisturbances,althoughtheyarelessresilienttohumandisturbances.Highcoralbiodiversityenhancesoverallresilience,butfuturefunctionalgroupshiftsmayoccurasmanyreef-buildingcoralspeciesarevulnerabletoclimatechange,whichwillimpactoverallreefstability.Coralreefsprovideimportantcommercialandsubsistencefishingopportunities,aswellasotherecosystemservicessuchasbiodiversity,coastalprotection,andrecreation.Avarietyofmarineprotectedareashavebeenestablished;however,theycoveronlyasmallpercentageofexistingreefhabitat,andprotectiveregulationsvarybetweensites.
PhotobyNationalParkService
HighConfidence
ModerateVulnerability
Low High
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CurrentManagementActionsGoal1:ProtectCoralReefHabitat
• Waterqualitytestingforbacteriaandnearshorenutrientinput,sometimesresultinginbeachclosures
• Reducelitterandmarinedebris• Federal,territorial,andvillageMarineProtectedAreas(MPAs)• NodischargeandanchoringintheSanctuary
Goal2:Controlcrown-of-thornsstarfishoutbreaks• Targetedcrown-ofthornsstarfisheradicationwithoxbile• Manualeradicationofcrown-ofthornsstarfish(spearorbash)• Bantakeoflargereeffish(e.g.,humpheadwrasse),whicharebelievedtobecrown-of-
thornspredatorsGoal3:Useeducationandoutreachtoprotectcoralreefsandbringthesitetothepeople
• SchoolprogramssuchasReefCheck(gearedtowardanyaudience;provideseducationoncoralfragilityandimportanceofcoralhabitatsoaudiencecanbecomeenvironmentalsteward)
• Virtualexperienceforstudents,allowingthemtoseechanges,includingclimatechangeimpactswithspecialgoggles
FutureManagementActionsGoal1:Decreasenutrientinputandsedimentationintocoastalwaters
• EnsurepiggerycomplianceandenforceEPAregulations• Supportsewerexpansions,newwastewatertreatmentplants,properseptictank
installation,andcesspoolremoval• Plantmoretrees/plantsincoastalareasandinvillagestoreducerunoff• Ensurecomplianceofcoastaldevelopmentsetbacks• Startawetlandsrestorationproject• Education/outreachonstrengtheningvillagelaws• Removeallwastewateroutfalls
Goal2:Coolingforbleachingpreventionandreduction• Movedeeper,coolerwatertoshallow,warmerareas
Goal3:Developresilientmarineprotectedareas(MPAs)–designfutureMPAsinareasthatareclimateresilientandeffectiveformultiplespecies(considernetworkofMPAs)
• Analyzewhatisalreadyinplaceandwhatisworkingtoidentifypriorityareasforprotection
• Alloweasyexchangeofdataandaccessibilityofinformationtoallowmanagerstoassesschangesovertime
Goal4:Assembleacoralreefdatabaseanddevelopsharingmethodformanagementanddecisionsupport
• Developeasyexchangeandaccessibilityofinformationtoallowmanagerstoassesschangesovertime
Goal5:Usecoralnurserygardensforrestoration• Selectcoralsthatdonotbleachforrestorationprojects
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FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions
Figure5.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforCoralReefs.
Note:Effectivenessandfeasibilityforcoralreefcurrentmanagementactionsincludes,amongotherfactors,workshopparticipants’perceptionsofcurrentacceptanceandcompliance.Engagingthecommunitytocreategreateracceptanceandcompliancecanleadtohighereffectiveness.Additionally,onereviewercommentedthatitisgoodtoselectcoralsthatareresilienttobleachingforrestorationprojects,butitisgenerallyconsideredineffectivebecauseofthescaleoftheprocess,i.e.,theamountofworkneededislargeandtheareaofreefrestoredissmall.Therefore,thereviewersuggestedmoving“selectcoralthatdoesnotbleachtorestorationprojects”fromtheupperrighttothelowerleft.
2.MangrovesandLagoonHabitat
IntroductionMangroveforestsinAmericanSamoaarefoundonlyonTutuliaandAunu’uIslands,andincludetidalfringingandinterior/partiallyenclosedbasinforests.Theyaretypicallyfoundinshelteredcoastallagoonsandprotectedareasnearstreammouths(ASCCFP2010).Threemangrovespeciesoccur:orientalmangrove(Bruguieragymnorrhiza)isthedominantspecies,redmangrove(Rhizophoramangle)canbefoundalongseawardmargins,andthepuzzlenuttree
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(Xylocarpusmoluccensis)isquiterare.Othermangroveforestassociatesincludebeachhibiscus(Hibiscustiliaceus),fish-poisontree(Barringtoniaasiatica),andTahitianchestnut(Inocarpusfagifer)(BardiandMann2004).Mangroveforeststhriveinbrackishwaterconditions,andprovidecriticalhabitatforavarietyoffish,invertebrate,andmolluskspecies(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
VulnerabilityAssessmentResults
WorkshopparticipantsevaluatedAmericanSamoanmangrovestohavealow-moderaterelativevulnerabilitytoclimatechangeduetomoderatesensitivitytoclimateandnon-climatestressors,moderateexposuretoprojectedfutureclimatechanges,andmoderateadaptivecapacity.Mangroveforestsaresensitivetocoastalerosionandsealevelrise,whichcauselandwardretreat,potentiallyleadingtohabitatextirpationifretreatisimpossible.Earthquakescontributetosealevelchangesandtsunamirisk;tsunamisandcyclonescanseverelydamagemangrovesystemsandcausehightreemortality.Non-climatestressorsplaythelargestroleinAmericanSamoanmangrovedecline.Mangroveclearingchangesthecoastalhydrologyresultingindebris,nutrientandpollutantbuildup.Additionally,roads/armoringcanblocklandwardmangrovemigration,increasinghabitatvulnerabilitytosealevelrise.SignificantportionsofmangroveforestshavebeenlosttohumanlanduseinAmericanSamoa;onlyfivestandsacrosstwoislandsremain,encompassingroughly52hectares(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Mangrovesmaynotrecoverfromextensivealterationormortality;whenstandsdorecovernaturally,recoverytimerangesfrom15-30years.Facilitatedrehabilitationhasexperiencedvaryingsuccess.Asthekeyfunctionalgroup,lowmangrovediversityincreaseshabitatvulnerabilitytoclimatechange,althoughdiversityamongstaffiliatetreespeciesishigher.Mangrovesprovideavarietyofecosystemservices(e.g.,biodiversity,fishnurseryhabitat,coastalprotection),althoughthereislowculturalrecognitionoftheseservices.Mangrovesareprotectedthroughseveralregulatorymechanisms,butalackofenforcementunderminesthislegalprotection.
CurrentManagementActionsGoal:Controlresidential/commercialdevelopmentnearmangrovestoprotectmangrovehabitat
• Preventbuildingovermangrovesthroughpermittingprocess(ProjectNotificationandReviewSystem–PRNS)
• EnforcementofspecialmanagementareasdesignedspecificallytoprotectmangrovesonTutuila
FutureManagementActionsGoal1:Reducenon-climatestressorssuchasdebrisfromstreamsthatdestroy/smothermangrovehabitat
• Removedebrisfrommangrovehabitats
Low-ModerateVulnerability
Low High
HighConfidence
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• Educatepeopleontheeffectofdebrisonmangrovesandenforcebanondebristhrownoutupstream
• IncreaseuseofstreamcatchmentstocatchdebrisGoal2:Increasepublicknowledgeofimportanceofmangrovesandincreaselocalenforcement.
• Createmangroveeducationandoutreachcampaigntoincreaseunderstandingofmangrovesandunderstandingofexistingguidelinesinpoliciesthatprotectmangroves
• Createtargetedvillageeducationandoutreachcampaigntoincreaselikelihoodofregulationenforcement
FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions
Figure6.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforMangroves.
3.WaterQuality
IntroductionWaterqualityinAmericanSamoaiscompromisedbyincreasedpopulationgrowth,clearingforagriculture,andincreasedbacterial,pharmaceutical,pesticide,pathogen,andnutrientpollutionfrompoorlyconstructedhumanandpiggerywastedisposalsystems.MostofthewellsandpumpsforgroundwaterdistributionarefoundintheTafuna-Leoneplain,whichisalsowheremostresidentsandbusinessesarelocated(ASEPA2014).SincetheTutuilavolcanicstratumisverypermeable,itisalsoveryvulnerabletocontaminationandpollutionfromrain
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events,causingrunoffofpollutantssuchasoilandgasfromautomobiles,andpathogensandnutrientloadingfrompoorlyconstructedhumansandpigwastewatersystems.Streamwater,whichwastraditionallyusedastheprimarypotablewater,hasalsobeencompromisedbydevelopmentalongstreamscausingsedimentation,increasederosion,andnutrientandbacterialloadingfromanimalandhumanwaste(ASEPA2014).Alongthecoastalshoreline,poorwaterqualityhasbeenthreateningnearbyfringingreefs.Sincetheconstructionoftheairport,whichalterednaturalcirculationpatternsinthePalaLagoon,theareahashadpoorwaterqualityandlowbiodiversity(Craig2009;ASEPA2014).PagoPagoHarboralsohaspoorwaterqualityduetodegradedconditionsfromfuel/oilspillsandtoxins,andhigheutrophicationfromnutrientloadingfromland-basedsourcesofpollution(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Thefishandinvertebratesintheharborareevencontaminatedwithheavymetals(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
VulnerabilityAssessmentResultsTherelativevulnerabilityofwaterqualityinAmericanSamoawasevaluatedbyworkshopparticipantstobemoderate-highduetohighsensitivitytoclimateandnon-climatestressors,highexposuretoprojectedfuturechanges,andmoderatetohighadaptivecapacity.Waterqualityissensitivetoclimatedriversthatalterhydrologyofriversandstreams,suchasairtemperature,tropicalstorms,precipitation,anddrought,causingsoilerosion,pollution,andnutrientloading.Otherclimatedrivers,suchasoceanacidificationandincreasedoceantemperatures,willimpactwaterqualityofnearshorecoastalwaters.WaterinAmericanSamoaisalimitedresourcefoundingroundwaterandstreams,andisveryvulnerabletoincreaseddemandduetodevelopmentandpopulationgrowth.Sealevelriseandincreasedstormswillincreasesaltwaterintrusionintogroundwaterreserves(UGCRP2009).
CurrentManagementActionsGoal:Improvewaterquality
• Improvesewageeffluentqualityandsewagetreatmento Secondarytreatmento UVlightso Fixleakingpipes
• Improvegroundwaterqualityo Fixleakingpipeso Sealcesspoolsandconverttoseptico Oilcollectiono Pesticidecontrolo Identifyresilientaquiferso Microfiltrationplants
• Improvesurfacewaterqualityandstormwatermanagemento Netsatstreammouthstocatchdebris
HighConfidence
Moderate-HighVulnerability
Low High
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o Raingardens/soakbedso Tamaligitreeremovalo ProjectNotificationandReviewSystem(PNRS)sedimentpermitrequirement
• EnforcetheKeepAmericanSamoaBeautifulAct(Theanti-litteringbillwassignedintolawOctober2016)
FutureManagementActionsGoal:Developandinstillasenseofresponsibilityinprotectingwatershedsanddisposingofwasteandtrashappropriately
• Increasepubliceducationandoutreach• Implementandenforceenvironmentaldisposalfeetoassistwithfunding• FindalternativestopollutantsforwhichAmericanSamoadoesnothavethecapacityto
disposeofortreat(e.g.,PFCs)
FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions
Figure7.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforWaterQuality.
Note:Theanti-litteringbillwassignedintolaw–KeepAmericanSamoaBeautifulAct–nowacurrentaction.
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4.GiantClams
IntroductionGiantclams,includingTridacnamxima,T.squamosa,andT.noae,aregenerallyfoundalongreeftopsandslopesofclearandshallowAmericanSamoawaters.TheyareparticularlyabundantinthesanctuaryMuliāvaManagementAreaandRoseAtollMarineNationalMonument,aswellasthenorthandwestsidesofTa’u.TheyhaveaspecialsignificancetoAmericanSamoaculturalheritage,thefa’a-Samoathusareatrisktobeoverfished(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Fa'alavelave,traditionalgatheringsamongcommunitiesandextendedfamilies,includeofferingsofgiantclamswhenavailable(Fenneretal.2008).TherehavebeensomeaquacultureeffortsforTridacnasp.inTutuilaandinitiatinggrow-outfacilitiesinAunu’uandtheManu’aislands(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Giantclams,Tridacnasp.werelistedvulnerableontheIUCNredListin2006(IUCN2014).
VulnerabilityAssessmentResultsWorkshopparticipantsandexpertsevaluatedgiantclamsinAmericanSamoatohaveamoderaterelativevulnerabilitytoclimatechangeduetomoderate-highsensitivitytoclimateandnon-climatestressors,moderateexposuretofutureclimatechanges,andmoderate-highadaptivecapacity.Giantclamsaresensitivetoseveralclimatestressors,includingoceanacidification,oceantemperature,currents,mixing,andstratification.Thesestressorscandirectlyaffectrecruitmentandgrowthofgiantclams.
CurrentManagementActionsGoal:Increasegiantclampopulations
• Enforceharvestregulationstoavoidover-harvestofthisculturallyimportantresource
FutureManagementActionsGoal:Increasegiantclampopulations/stocksbysupportingfisheriesinshallowwatersandstockingclamsindeeperwaters
• Supporthatcheryoperationsforstockinginshallowwatertosupportfisheriesandstockingclamsindeepwaterbeyond100ft.(30.5m)forstockreplenishment
• Conductageneticstudyofgiantclamsbetweenislandstodiversifyseedsource
ModerateVulnerability
Low High HighConfidence
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FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions
Figure8.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforGiantClams.
5.ReefFishAvulnerabilityassessmentwasconductedforreefherbivores,reefpiscivores,andcharismaticreeffish.Duringthevulnerabilityassessmentworkshopsparticipantfeltthateachdifferenttypeofreeffishassemblageshouldbeconsideredindependentlysincetheyhaveuniqueattributes.Duringtheadaptationstrategyworkshops,participantsfeltthatcurrentandfuturemanagementactionstoreducevulnerabilitiesandincreaseresiliencewouldbethesameforallreefdependentfishes,thustheyshouldbeconsideredasareeffishassemblageandnotdifferentiatedbytheirattributes.
ReefHerbivoresIntroductionCommonreefherbivorousfishusedforsubsistence,artisanal,andrecreationalpurposesincludethesurgeonfisheriessuchasthelinedsurgeonfishoralogo(Acanthuruslineatus)andmaniniandpone(Acanthurussp.)(Craig2009).Otherreefherbivoresincludeparrotfishes(Scaridae),soldierfishes/squirrelfishes(Holocentridae),wrasses(Labridae),andgoatfishes(Mullidae).ThealogoisaquiteabundantandpopularSamoanfoodfishandaccountsforapproximately30%ofreeffishcaughtforthesubsistencefishery,whilethemaniniandponearealsoabundantandpopularsubsistenceandartisanalfisheries(Craig2009).Parrotfishesandsurgeonfishesalsohavecloseassociationtothereefenvironment.Parrotfishesareknownasbioeroders,feedingondetritusonreefsbyscrappingreefsurfaces,whilesurgeonfishesare
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morediverseandcanfeedonbothplantanddetritalmatter.Allreefherbivorousfishescontributeinlimitingalgalgrowthincoralreefsandhelpingtomaintaindiversityandcoralreefhealth(Comeros-Raynal2012).Globallythesespeciesassemblagesareatlowriskofextinction.However,theyareregionallythreatenedduetoincreasedharvestfromsubsistencefisheries.Thebumpheadparrotfish(Bolbometaponmuricatum)isconsideredaprizecatchandhasbeenlistedasaspeciesofconcernbecauseofillegalspearfishingandhabitatdegradation(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
ReefHerbivoreFishVulnerabilityAssessmentResults
Therelativevulnerabilityofherbivorousreeffishwasevaluatedbyworkshopparticipantstobelowtomoderateduetomoderatesensitivitytoclimateandnon-climatestressors,suchasseasurfacetemperatures,habitatdestructionbydisease,andinvasivespeciessuchasthecrown-of-thornsstarfish;moderateexposuretoprojectedfutureclimatechangesinthenext20yearsofincreasednutrientrunoffandsedimentationfromprecipitationandextremestorms;andhighadaptivecapacity.Reeffishtendtoliveneartheupperendoftheirthermaltolerancelimitandmayexperiencephysiologicalanddevelopmentalimpactsandrangeshiftsduetoincreasesinseatemperature(GuidryandMackenzie2001;Leongetal.2014).
ReefPiscivoresIntroductionThereareover69differentspeciesofreeffishandinvertebratesspecies/assemblagesconsumedandsoldinAmericanSamoa.Ofthosetargeted,reef-dependentpiscivoresincludejacks(Carangidae),snappers(Lutjanidae),groupers(Serranidae),andemperorfish(Lethrinidae)(LevineandAllen2009).Continuedoverfishinganddeclinesincoralreefhabitatwillnegativelyimpactreeffishpopulations,whicharevaluabletocommercial,recreational,andsubsistencefishermen(Greggetal.2016).Manyreef-dependentfishthatusecoralreefsforspawning,foraging,protection,andfeedingwilllikelyexperiencepopulationdeclinesascoralsdegradeduetoincreasedseatemperature,oceanacidifcation,andinvasivespecies(Leongeta.2014).
ReefPiscivoresVulnerabilityAssessmentResults
Therelativevulnerabilityofreef-dependentpiscivoreswasevaluatedbyworkshopparticipantstobelowtomoderateduetomoderatetohighsensitivitytoclimaticandnon-climaticstressorsincludingoceanacidificationandincreasedseasurfacetemperaturesimpactingreefhabitatandbiologicalprocesses,suchasgrowthandreproduction.Reef-dependentpiscivoresalsoareimpactedbyhighfishingpressureandnutrientloading/pollutionbuthavehighadaptivecapacitywithincreasedmanagementofbothhabitatandspeciesassemblages.
CharismaticReefFishIntroductionReeffish(bothpiscivoresandherbivores)areabundantandhighlydiversewithover930species(Craig2009).Manycoralreeffishareterritorialalgaleatersandhabitatspecialists,
Low-ModerateVulnerability
Low High HighConfidence
Low-ModerateVulnerability
Low High
HighConfidence
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Low-ModerateVulnerability
Low High
tendingtoonlyfrequentcertainhabitatswithinthecoralreefsystemwithsometakingpermanentresidence,suchasdamsels(Pomacentridae),mano’oblennies,andgobies(Gobiidae)(Wass1984).Damselfishinparticularareveryterritorialandaggressivelyprotecttheirhabitat.Butterflyfishesarefullydependentonfeedingonlivecoralandarevulnerabletotheoveralldeclineincoralreefsworldwide(Coleetal.2008).Charismaticreefspeciesassemblagesarealsovulnerabletocaptureforaquariaand/orbioprospectingtrade,althoughthereiscurrentlynoharvestforthemarineornamentalindustryinAmericanSamoa.
CharismaticReefFishVulnerabilityAssessmentResults
Therelativevulnerabilityofcharismaticreeffishwasevaluatedbyworkshopparticipantstobelowtomoderateduetomoderatetohighsensitivitytoclimaticandnon-climaticfactorssuchasoceanacidification,increasedseatemperature,landusechanges,anddredgingthatimpactscoralreefhabitat.Speciesassemblageswillbeimpactedbyfuturemoderateexposureofincreasedseasurfacetemperatureanderosioncausingfurthersedimentationtothecoralreefhabitat.
CurrentManagementActionsForAllReefFishAssemblagesGoal:Protectreeffishpopulationsandensuresustainablefishingpractices§ Fullyutilizeandenforceallfishingregulations
o 2001AmericanSamoaGovernorExecutiveOrderbannedSCUBAfishingduetodepletionofreefpiscivoresandherbivoresandincreaseinfishingefficacy
o Minimumfishingnetsize,andnetscannotbeleftovernight;netscanonlybeleftunattended3-5hours
o Dailycatchlimitsexistinfederalwater(3-200miles)(5-322km.)o DepartmentofMarineandWildlifeResourcesCommunity-BasedFisheries
ManagementProgram(0-3miles)(0-5km.)o Non-destructivefishingruleinterritorialwaterso Encouragetruetraditionalandculturalfishingmethods–thefa’a-Samoa“Samoan
way”
FutureManagementActionsForAllReefFishAssemblages
Goal:Promotediverseandhealthyreeffishpopulations§ Setsizelimits–makesuretheyareoverthereproductiveage(greaternumberofyearsat
reproductiveagecouldincreasethelikelihoodofrecruitmentsuccess)§ Setcatchlimits–numberofindividualfishperday(ifsold,commerciallicensestillneeded)
High
Confidence
31
FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActionsforAllReefFishAssemblages
Figure9.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforReeffish.
6.PelagicFish
IntroductionPelagicfishspeciesintheregionaremanagedthroughtheWesternandCentralPacificFisheriesCommissionandincludemigratorytunassuchasthebigeye(Thunnusobesus),yellowfinorasiasi(T.albacares),albacoreorapakoal(T.alalunga),dogtoothortagi(Gymnosardaunicolor)andskipjackoratu(Katsuwonuspelamis)(Craig2009).Otherimportantspeciesincludebillfish(Tetrapturusauda,Makairamazara,Xiphiasgladius),dolphinfish(Coryphaenahippurus,C.equiselas)andwahoo(Acanthocybiumsolandri)(Craig2009).Mostpelagicfishpreferopenoceanareaandseldomcomeclosetoshore;occasionallythedogtoothtunaisseenalongreefareas.AlthoughAmericanSamoahasalargetunapackingcanneryindustry(ChickenoftheSea),tunaisnotparticularlyabundantintheregionandmostofthetunacannedlocallyusefishcaughtinotherareas(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
32
VulnerabilityAssessmentResults
Commerciallyvaluablepelagicfishspecieswereevaluatedtobemoderatelyvulnerablebyworkshopparticipantsduetochangesintemperature,oceancirculation,andoceanacidification.CommonmigratorypelagictunashavealreadyshownresponsestoincreasedtemperaturesandchangesincirculationpatternsduringElNiñoSouthernOscillation(ENSO)events(Keeneretal.2012;Leongetal.2014).Futurechangesindistributionandabundanceofmigratoryspeciesmightresultduetochangesincreasedtemperatureandchangesincurrentsaffectingpreyavailabilityandthermaltolerance.
CurrentManagementActions/FutureManagementActionsParticipantsdidnotevaluatecurrentandfuturemanagementactionsforpelagicfish.Theydiscussedpelagicfishalongwithsharksandraysbutdidnotcompleteafullassessment(seebelow).
7.SharksandRays
IntroductionCommonspeciesofsharksinAmericanSamoaincludetheblacktipreefshark(Carcharhinusmelanopterus)andthewhitetipreefshark(Triaenodonobesus).Otherrarerspeciesincludehammerheadsharks,tigersharks(Galeocerdocuvier),andwhalesharks(Rhincodontypus)(Craig2009).ThemostcommonspeciesofraysinAmericanSamoaareEaglerays(Myliobatidaesp.).SharksandraysaregenerallyrareacrossIndo-Pacificcoralreefhabitats,andhavebeenprotectedfromcatchandpossessionsince2012(Craig2009;USDOCNOAAONMS2012).AlthoughsharksarenottypicallytargetedinAmericanSamoa,violationshavebeenobserved.Blacktipandwhitetipreefsharksarecommonlyfoundinnearshorewatersandsightedwhilediving,snorkeling,andswimming.HammerheadsharksareknowntogivebirthinPagoPagoHarbor,whilefewtigersharkshavebeencaughtaroundTutuila(Craig2009).Increasedseasurfacetemperaturesmayaffectsharkandrayranges,preyavailability,andembryonicdevelopment(Hobdayetal.2009).Extremeprecipitationeventscanalsodiminishtheirabilitytoeffectivelyusetheirsenseofsmellandelectroreceptiontolocateprey(Hobdayetal.2009).
VulnerabilityAssessmentResults
Sharksandrayswereevaluatedhavelowtomoderatevulnerabilitybyworkshopparticipantsduetoclimateandnon-climatestressorssuchasoceanacidification,seasurfacetemperature,andchangesincurrentsandwind.Althoughsharksareprotected,therearethreatsofharvestforsharkfins.Sharksandraysareimpactedbythesameoceanographicconditionsthataffect
Low-ModerateVulnerability
Low High ModConfidence
HighConfidence
ModerateVulnerability
Low High
33
pelagicfish,andaswellasbyland-basedstressorsincludingcoastalerosion,sedimentation,andrunoff.
CurrentManagementActionsParticipantsattheworkshopwerenotfamiliarwithcurrentmanagementactionsforsharksandraysandwerenotcomfortableaddressingcurrentmanagementactionsvulnerabilitytoclimatechangesinthisworkshop.(Note:SharkfishingisprohibitedbytheAmericanSamoaGovernment).
FutureManagementActionsGoal:Increaseresearchonsharksandrays
§ Increaseresearchtoidentifyspawning/rearingcriticalhabitat(mostareprotected)§ Increaseresearchonclimatechangeeffectsonsharksandrays§ Increasedenforcementandcourtoutreachandcapacitytoleadtoconvictions
FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions
Figure10.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforSharksandRays.
34
8.SeaTurtles
IntroductionSeaturtlesinAmericanSamoa,alsocalledLaumei(DMWR2006),includetheendangeredhawksbillseaturtle(Eretmochelysimbricata)(USDOCNOAAONMS2012)andtheendangeredgreenseaturtle(Cheloniamydas)(81FR20058).Bothspeciesaregloballydistributedthroughouttropicalandsub-tropicalzones.Locally,juvenilesofbothspeciesarecommonlyfoundinnear-shorecoralreefhabitatsinAmericanSamoa.IthasbeenassumedthatonlyhawksbillsnestonbeachesofTutuila,Aunu’uandtheManuaIslands(Craig2009);however,recenttaggingworkbyDMWRandtheNationalParkofAmericanSamoahaveconfirmedthatsubstantialproportionsofturtlesnestingonOfuaregreenturtles(percomm,M.MacDonald,DMWR)additionalsurveysareneededtodetermineifthesameistrueofotherislands.ThereisasubstantialnestingaggregationofgreenturtlesatRoseAtoll.NMFSscientistsestimateasmanyas300greenturtlesnestthere(Orametal2016),makingRoseAtoll,asignificantsourcepopulationsforthecentralSouthPacificDistinctPopulationSegmentofgreenturtles.NestingturtlesfromRoseAtollhavebeentrackedreturningtoforageareasinSamoa,AmericanSamoa,Fiji,CookIslands,Vanuatu,Tahiti,PapuaNewGuinea,andFrenchPolynesia(NMFS2015).
VulnerabilityAssessmentResultsOverallseaturtlevulnerabilitywasratedasmoderatebyworkshopparticipantsduetomoderatesensitivitytoclimateandnon-climatestressors,moderateexposuretoprojectedfutureclimatechanges,andlowtomoderateadaptivecapacity.Seaturtlesarevulnerabletolossofhabitatduetosealevelriseandcoastalerosion(Poloczanskaetal.2009).Increasedairandseatemperaturesalsoimpactnestsexcompositionandnestingpreference(ChengandGaskin2011).Seaturtlehabitatisalsothreatenedbycoastaldevelopmentincludingcoastalarmoring,waterquality,andlightpollution(ChengandGaskin2011).Othernon-climaticthreatstoseaturtlesincludeincidentalfisheriescatchandpossiblepredationandpoachingofeggs.
CurrentManagementActionsGoal:Protectnestinghabitat
§ Requirepermitsforsandmining–notalotofspacefornestingonTutuila§ AmendtheProjectNotificationandReviewSystem(PNRS)setbackrequirement–100ft.
(30.48m)fromshoreline§ Monitoringandsatellitetaggingofnestingturtles
FutureManagementActionsGoal1:Protectturtlenestinghabitatbypreservingsand
• Createbanonsandmining(mayrequirechangeinenforcementagencyandneedtoincludeprovisionstoallowforculturaluse)
ModerateVulnerability
Low High ModConfidence
35
• IncreaseeducationforwhysandiscriticalforturtlesGoal2:Protectturtlenestsfromheatstress
• Increasenativegrass/vegetationplantingtoprovideshadeGoal3:Protectturtlesbyincreasinglightmanagement
• Useturtle-friendlystreetlightso Paintoverlights;paintsidethatfacesbeacheso Usespecialtypesoflightbulbsalongshorelines
• Increaseeducationforcoastalresidentsandbusinessestoturnlightsoffduringnestingseason
o MotionsensorlightsmayalreadybeinuseGoal4:Createeducationandoutreachcampaignaboutseaturtlesandtheirhabitat.
• Createwidespreadpublicawarenesscampaign• Createacitizenscienceprogramforresidentstoreportwhattheysee• Engagevillagecouncilstohelpprotectandenforcelaws
FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrentandFutureManagementActions
Figure11.FeasibilityandEffectivenessofCurrent(blue)andFutureAdaptationActionsforSeaTurtles.
36
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Appendices
AppendixI:NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaTheNationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaiscurrentlyoneof14sitesoftheNationalMarineSanctuarySystemthatincludesanetworkofunderwaterparksencompassingmorethan600,000squaremiles(1,553,993sq.km.)ofmarineandGreatLakeswatersthroughouttheUSmainlandandPacificIslands.Eachhavingitsownsignificanceformarinelife,culturalandhistoricalphenomenon,economicvalue,tourismandtheuniquepeopleandcommunitiesinwhichtheyarefound;sanctuariesareplaceswherepeopleworktogethertoconserveandprotectspecialplaces(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).OnJuly26,2012,fivediscretegeographicalareaswereaddedtotheexistingFagateleBayNationalMarineSanctuaryandthenameofthesanctuarywaschangedtotheNationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoa(77FR43942).NOAAalsoamendedexistingsanctuaryregulationsandappliedtheseregulationstoactivitiesintheexpandedsanctuary.ThesefinalregulationstookeffectonOctober15,2012(77FR65815).FagateleBayManagementAreaTheFagateleBayisentirelyno-take.Fishingandotherextractiveusesarenotallowed.Allowed–non-extractiveresearch,education,andrecreation.FagateleBayisa0.25squaremile(0.65sq.km.)treasureoffthesouthwestcoastofTutuila.Asof2012,whenthesanctuaryexpanded,itisnowano-takemarineprotectedareatosupportwhatisoneofthemostbiologicallydiverseareasintheNationalMarineSanctuarySystemandtheonlysanctuarysouthoftheEquator.Thebayhasproventobemoreresilientthanotherreefsintheterritoryaswasseenduringthemostrecent,2015globalcoralbleachingevent.TheculturalsignificanceofFagateleBayliesinitsconnectionwithahistoriccoastalvillagethat
42
occupieditsshoresfromprehistorictimesthroughthe1950s.Thesitehasnotbeenexcavated,butfoundationsofstructuresandpathwaysremainbeneaththeovergrownvegetation.FagateleBaycontainsoneofthefewmarinearchaeologicalrecordsintheterritory:grindingholesorbaitcupscarvedbyAncientSamoansintotheshorelinealongthereefedge(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Surveyshaveidentifiedatleast200speciesofcoralsinthebaythatarethoughttobethecenterpieceofacommunityofmorethan1,400speciesofalgaeandinvertebratesandmorethan270speciesoffish.Abundantgroupsincludeadultandjuveniledamselfish,surgeonfish,wrasse,butterflyfish,andparrotfish.Herbivorousspeciescanhelpdecreaseavailablesourcesoffoodforthreatslikejuvenilecrown-of-thornsstarfishthatonceadultscandecimatecoralsasseenduringoutbreaksaroundAmericanSamoainthe1970saswellasinrecentyears(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Fagalua/Fogāma’aManagementAreaAllowed–research,education,recreation,hook-and-linefishing,castnets,spearfishing(non-SCUBAassisted),andothernon-destructivefishingmethodsincludingthosetraditionallyusedforsustenanceandculturalpurposessuchasgleaning,`enuandola(traditionalbasketfishing).Fagalua/Fogāmaˊaisroughly0.46squaremiles(1.19sq.km.)ofbayareaonthesouthwestshoreofTutuila.TheimportanceoftherelationshipbetweenthisbayandthesurroundingenvironmentiscomparabletoFagateleBay,locatedjustovertheridge.Bothcovesareconsideredregionalhotspotswithhighcoralcoverageandmanydifferenttypesofcoralandfishspecies.Becauseofthissimilarity,theareaprovidesareplicatehabitatforincreasedprotection,scientificresearchandoverallresilienceofcoralreefecosystems.Withinthisarea,Fagaluaisthesiteoftwoturtleimagescarvedinaboulder,prehistoricfalefoundationsandmaycontainburiedarcheologicaldeposits(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
43
Aunu’uManagementAreasZoneA–MultipleUseZoneAllowed–research,educationandrecreation.Hook-and-linefishing,castingnets,spearfishing(non-scubaassisted)andothernon-destructivefishingmethodsincludingthosetraditionallyusedforsustenanceandculturalpurposessuchasgleaning,`enuandola.ZoneB–ResearchZoneAllowed–research,education,recreationandsurfacefishingforpelagicspecies–includingfishingbytrolling.Examplesofpelagicfishinclude:dogtoothorwhitetuna,skipjacktuna,spearfish,billfish,wahoo,masimasi,rainbowrunnerandsailfish.NotAllowed–fishingforbottom-dwellingspecies.Bottomfishingandtrawlingisprohibited.Aunuˊuisasmall,volcanicislandwithalandareaof0.58squaremiles(1.50sq.km.).MajorfeaturesoftheislandincludeAunuˊuCrater,PalaLake(auniqueareaofredquicksand),andFaimulivaiMarsh,thelargestfreshwaterwetlandinAmericanSamoa.TheislandisaNationalParkServiceNationalNaturalLandmark.Theareasurroundingtheislandoverlapswithfourdistinctbiogeographicregions,makingitahighlydiversemarineareathatincludeshotspotsforcoralcover,fishbiomass,andfishrichness(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
44
Atotalof5.8squaremiles(15.02sq.km.)ofreefandoffshorewatersaroundAunuˊuhavebeenincludedinthesanctuary,with3.9squaremiles(10.10sq.km.)designatedaresearchzoneandallowssurfacefishingforpelagicsonly,and1.9squaremiles(4.92sq.km.)multipleusezonethatallowstraditionalandnon-destructivefishingpractices.Theresearchandmultipleusezoneswillallowforcomparisonsovertimeofanareathatprohibitsthetakeofreeffishandbottomdwellingspeciesandbenefitstoanadjacentareaofhigherhumanusesthatmeetstheneedsofday-to-daylivinginsustainableways(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).TheareaoffthecoastofAunuˊuIslandconsistsofmarinehabitatsofvaryingdepthincludingshallowwaterreefstodeepwaters.ThebenthichabitatssurroundingAunuˊuareverydiverseandcomprisedmostlyofcoralreefandhardbottomformations.Totheeastoftheislandextendsacoralbankwithextensiveaggregatepatchreefonitswesternedge,descendingintodeeperwatersthatsupportmesophoticreefs.Turfalgaedominatemuchofthebankhabitatneartheisland,formingextensivealgalplains.Together,thesefeaturescreateadiversityofhabitatuniqueinAmericanSamoa(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).Ta’uManagementAreaAllowed–research,education,recreation,hook-and-linefishing,castnets,spearfishing(non-SCUBAassisted)andothernon-destructivefishingmethodsincludingthosetraditionallyusedforsustenanceandculturalpurposessuchasgleaning,`enuandola.Ta’uIsland,partoftheManu’aIslandgroup,islocated70miles(112.65km.)eastofTutuilaand6.9milessoutheastofOlosega.TheTa’uManagementAreaisapproximately14.6squaremiles(37.81sq.km.)andincludesbothnearshoreanddeepwatersfromSi’ufa’alelePointsouthalongthewesterncoast,andincludesdeepwatersbeginning0.25miles(0.40km.)offshore,adjacenttothenearshorewatersoftheNationalParkofAmericanSamoa(NPSA),alongthesoutherncoastbetweenSi’ufa’alelePointandSi’uPoint.LocatedwithinthesanctuaryaremassivePoritescoralsinanareaknownas“ValleyoftheGiants.”ThisareaisalsohometowhatisbelievedtobepossiblytheoldestandlargestPoritescoralintheworld.Atover500
45
yearsofage,“BigMomma”liesatadepthof50feet(15.24m.),stands21feet(6.40m.)tall,42feet(12.80m.)wideandhasacircumferenceof135feet(41.15m.).Thisareahasbecomeanattractionforresearchersaswellasadestinationforthedevelopingdivetourismindustry(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).ThewesternsideofTa’u’ssoutherncoastisaregionalhotspotforcoralandfishdiversityandpossessesadistinctcoralcommunity.ThesanctuaryservesasadeepwaterbufferzoneforthemarineareasoftheNPSA,aswellasaddingnearshoreandreefprotectionaroundthePoritescoralheads(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).SwainsManagementAreaAllowed–research,education,recreation,hook-and-linefishing,castnets,spearfishing(non-SCUBAassisted)andothernon-destructivefishingmethodsincludingthosetraditionallyusedforsustenanceandculturalpurposessuchasgleaning,`enuandola.SwainsIslandisaprivatelyownedlow-lyingcoralatolllocatedabout200miles(321.87km.)northwestofTutuila.Itisapproximately1.5miles(2.41km.)indiameter,withapproximately1squaremile(2.59sq.km.)ofhighlyvegetatedsandandcoralwithamaximumelevationof6feet(1.83m.)abovesealevel.SwainsIslandhasahighamountofcoralcoverandmanydifferenttypesofcorals.CoraldiseaseislowatSwainsIsland.SwainsIslandischaracterizedbylargeschoolsofpredators,mostlybarracudas,jacksandsnappers.Overall,therearehighamountsoflargefisharoundSwainsIsland.Thissanctuaryareaincludes52.3squaremiles(135.46sq.km.)ofterritorialwaters(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
46
OceanexplorerJean-MichelCousteauhasreferredtoSwainsIslandas“oneofthelastjewelsoftheplanet.”A2013expeditiontotheislandthatincludedoffshore,maritimearcheologyandterrestrialsurveysledtodiscoveriesthathaveexpertscallingSwainsamicrocosmofculturalinfluencesinthePacific.ThefindingsarenowavailablethroughtheNOAANationalMarineSanctuariespublication,“UnlockingthesecretsofSwainsIsland:aMaritimeHeritageResourcesSurvey”(VanTilburgetal2013).MuliāvaManagementAreaAllowed–research,education,recreation,andfishingwithapermit(seebelowforadditionalinformation).Muliāva,partoftheKingdomofManuˊa,meansendofthechannel.Culturally,thenameremainsareferencetotraditionalknowledgeoftheocean.Rose,thenameappropriateforthecolorofthecoralssurroundingRoseIsland,hasalsobeenreferredtoas“MotuoManu”orIslandofBirds(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
47
TheRoseAtollMarineNationalMonumentwasestablishedin2009byPresidentialProclamation8337(74FR1577).In2012,thesanctuaryMuliāvamanagementareathatincludes13,507.8squaremiles(34,985.04sq.km.)ofmarinewaterswasoverlayedontothemonumenttobringincreasedprotections,regulations,researchandeducationandoutreachcapacity.AtMuliāva,thesanctuaryworkswiththeNOAANationalMarineFisheriesService,USFishandWildlifeServiceandtheAmericanSamoaGovernmentthroughanintergovernmentalcommitteeforthecoordinatedmanagementofthisincredibleplace.In2013,attherecommendationoftheWesternPacificRegionalFisheryManagementCouncil,NOAANationalMarineFisheriesServiceenactedadditionalregulationsthatprohibitedallfishingwithin12nauticalmiles(22.22km.)ofRoseIsland.Non-commercialfishingoutside12nauticalmiles(22.22km.)isprohibitedunlessauthorizedbyapermitthatallowsforsustenance,traditionalindigenousandrecreationalfishing(78FR32996).Roseisanappropriatenamefortheatollbecauseoftherose-coloredcrustosecorallinealgaethatdominatethearea.Roseislocatedapproximately150miles(241.40km.)eastofPagoPagoHarbor.ItistheeasternmostSamoanislandandthesouthernmostpointoftheUnitedStates.Oneofthesmallestatollsintheworld,Roseconsistsofabout.03squaremiles(.08sq.km.)oflandand2.5squaremiles(6.47sq.km.)oflagoonsurroundedbyanarrowbarrierreefthatareincludedinaUnitedStatesFishandWildlifeServiceNationalWildlifeRefuge(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).AtMuliāva,scientistshavechronicledadistinctenvironmentwithinthearchipelagowithlargenumbersoffishandauniquecoralcommunitythatincludesover270speciesofreeffish.Rosehasbeenreferredtoasahotspotforfishbiomassthatsupportsespeciallyhighdensitiesofsmallplanktivorousdamselfish(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).RoseAtollistheprimarysiteforgreenseaturtlenestinginAmericanSamoaandsupportsthehighestdensitiesofthegiantclamTridacnamaximaintheSamoanarchipelago.Morethan93percentoftheadultbroodstockofgiantclamsintheSamoanarchipelagoiswithinitsprotectedlagoon.AlthoughsimilarsuitablehabitatforthegiantclamexistselsewhereinAmericanSamoa,suchasonTutuilaandUpoluintheIndependentStateofSamoa,theseunprotectedpopulationshavebeenseverelydepleted.ElsewhereinthePacificIslands(Fiji),thegiantclamhasbeenharvestedtolocalextinction(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).ThesanctuaryareaalsoincludesthesubmergedvolcanicconeknownastheVailuluˊuSeamountthathasadiversebiologicalcommunitythatincludescrinoids,octocorals,sponges,andcutthroateels.Since2003,an1100foot(335.28m.)tallvolcaniccone,knownasNafanua,hasgrownintheseamount’scrater.ScientistsspeculatethatNafanuawillbreachtheseasurfacewithindecades,forminganewislandintheSamoanislandgroup.Theseamountconehasseveraltypesofhydrothermalventsthatprovidehabitatforanunusualgroupoforganisms,rangingfrommicrobialmatstopolychaeteworms.AthrivingpopulationoftheeelDysomminarugosaoccupiesthesummitofNafanua,survivingoncrustaceansimportedtothesystemfromthewatercolumnabove(USDOCNOAAONMS2012).
48
References:74FR1577:FederalRegister/Vol.74,No.7/Monday,January12,2009,page1577.PresidentialDocuments.Proclamation8337ofJanuary6,2009.EstablishmentoftheRoseAtollMarineNationalMonument.77FR43942:FederalRegister/Vol.77,No.144/Thursday,July26,2012/RulesandRegulations,page43942.DepartmentofCommerce.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration.15CFRPart922.[DocketNo.100908440–2181–02].RIN0648–BA24.ExpansionofFagateleBayNationalMarineSanctuary,RegulatoryChanges,andSanctuaryNameChange;NoticeofEffectiveDate.Agency:OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries(ONMS),NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA),DepartmentofCommerce(DOC).Action:FinalRule.77FR65815:FederalRegister/Vol.77,No.211/Wednesday,October31,2012/RulesandRegulations,page65815.DepartmentofCommerce.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration.15CFRPart922.[DocketNo.070726412–1300–02].RIN0648–BA24.ExpansionofFagateleBayNationalMarineSanctuary,RegulatoryChanges,andSanctuaryNameChange;NoticeofEffectiveDate.Agency:OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries(ONMS),NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA),DepartmentofCommerce(DOC).Action:Noticeofeffectivedate.78FR32996:FederalRegister/Vol.78,No.106/Monday,June3,2013/RulesandRegulations,page32996.DepartmentofCommerce.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration.50CFRPart665.[DocketNo.110819515–3444–02].RIN0648–BA98.WesternPacificFisheries;FishingintheMarianasTrench,PacificRemoteIslands,andRoseAtollMarine.NationalMonuments.Agency:NationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS),NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA),Commerce.Action:Finalrule.U.S.DepartmentofCommerce(DOC).NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA).OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries(ONMS).2012.FagateleBayNationalMarineSanctuaryFinalManagementPlan/FinalEnvironmentalImpactStatement.SilverSpring,MD.VanTilburg,H.K.,D.J.Herdrich,R.Suka,M.Lawrence,C.FilimoehalaandS.Gandulla.2013.UnlockingthesecretsofSwainsIsland:aMaritimeHeritageResourcesSurvey.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration.OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries.MaritimeHeritageProgramSeries:Number6.
49
AppendixII:ListofAcronymsASEPA:AmericanSamoaEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyASCC:AmericanSamoaCommunityCollegeASG:AmericanSamoaGovernmentASPA:AmericanSamoaPowerAuthorityCRAG:CoralReefAdvisoryGroupCRCP:CoralReefConservationProgramCZMP:CoastalZoneManagementProgramDMWR:Dept.ofMarineandWildlifeResourcesDOC:DepartmentofCommerceDOE:DepartmentofEducationENSO:ElNinoSouthernOscillationEPA:EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyFWS:FishandWildlifeServiceIPO:Inter-decadalPacificOscillationMPA:MarineProtectedAreaNMFS:NationalMarineFisheriesServiceNMSAS:NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaNMSASAC:NationalMarineSanctuaryofAmericanSamoaAdvisoryCouncilNPSA:NationalParkServiceofAmericanSamoaNOAA:NationalOceanicAtmosphericAdministrationOCI:OfficeofCurriculumandInstructionONMS:OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaryPDO:PacificDecadalOscillationPFCs:PerfluorinatedChemicalsPNRS:ProjectNotificationandReviewSystemSPREP:SecretariatofthePacificRegionalEnvironmentProgrammeUSGS:UnitedStateGeologicalSurveyWRRC:WaterResourcesResearchCenter
50
AppendixIII:ClimateImpactsSummaryTableClimateVariableandTrend
ObservedChange Trend RelativeChange
FutureProjections Confidence Uncertainty Source(s)
Airtemperature
SamoaFrom1950-2009:>Averageannualtemperaturesincreased+0.25°F(+0.14°C)perdecade>Averagemaximumairtemperaturesincreased+0.4°F(+0.22°C)perdecade>Averageminimumairtemperaturesincreased+0.07°F(+0.04°C)perdecade
é
High CentralSouthPacificAnnualsurfaceairtemperature(comparedto1971-2000)>By2030:+1.1-1.3°F(+0.61-0.72°C)>By2050:+1.9-2.5°F(+1.06-1.39°C)>By2090:+2.5-4.8°F(+1.39-2.67°C)PacificIslands>Extremeheatdayswillbecomemorefrequentandintenseduringthe21stcentury
>Highconfidenceintrenddirection>Mediumconfidenceintrendmagnitude
>Magnitudeofchangevariesbygreenhousegasemissionscenario:B1(lower)andA2(higher)
AustralianBureauofMeteorologyandCSIRO2011;Finucaneetal.2012;Young2007
Seasurfacetemperature
PacificIslands>Seasurfacetemperatureshaveincreasedregionallyatarateof0.13-0.41°F(+0.07-0.23°C)perdecadesince1970AmericanSamoaandSamoa>Itisdifficulttodeterminelong-termtrendsduetoregionalvariability>AmericanSamoahasexhibitedwarmingtrends(exactratesaren'tavailable)>Samoaexperiencedseasurfacewarmingatarateof+0.14°F(+0.08°C)perdecadefrom1970-2011
é High PacificIslandsSeasurfacetemperatures(comparedto1990,rangesrepresentlow[B1]andhigh[A2]emissionsscenarios)1>By2030:+1.1-1.7°F(+0.61-0.94°C)>By2055:+1.8-2.3°F(+1-1.28°C)>By2090:+2.5-4.7°F(+1.39-2.61°C)
>Highconfidenceintrenddirection>Mediumconfidenceintrendmagnitude
>Magnitudevariesbyemissionsscenario:B1(lower)andA2(higher)>ShiftsinseasurfacetemperaturewillalsobeaffectedbyENSO,thePDO,andtheIPO
AustralianBureauofMeteorologyandCSIRO2011;Keeneretal.2012;Young2007
51
ClimateVariableandTrend
ObservedChange Trend RelativeChange
FutureProjections Confidence Uncertainty Source(s)
ExtremePrecipitationEvents
CentralSouthPacific>Nosignificanttrendinthefrequencyofextremerainfalleventssince1965
éê
Moderate CentralSouthPacific>Extremerainfalleventswillbecorrelatedwithtropicalstormactivity(seebelow),butarelikelytoincreaseinfrequencyandintensityduringthe21stcentury
>Moderateconfidenceintrenddirection>Lowconfidenceintrendmagnitude
>Extremerainfallprojectionsarehighlyvariable,influencedbyENSO/PDOpatterns,andotherfactors.>Extremerainfalleventsthatcurrentlyoccuronceevery20yearsonaveragearegenerallysimulatedtooccurfourtimesperyear,onaverage,by2055.
AustralianBureauofMeteorologyandCSIRO2011;Keeneretal.2012;Young2007
Precipitationanddrought
AmericanSamoa>Nosignificanttrendsinannualprecipitationorwinterone-dayprecipitationvolumesince1965>Nochangeindroughteventfrequencyin60yearsSamoa>Nosignificanttrendsinseasonalorannualrainfallfrom1950-2009orfrom1890-2005
éê
Low CentralSouthPacific>Projectionsarehighlyvariableanddisplayconflictingresults>Futureconditionsmayincludenochangeoraslightincreaseinmeanannualprecipitationwithslightdecreasesduringthedryseasonandslightincreasesduringthewetseasonduringthe21stcenturySamoa>Droughtfrequencyisn'tlikelytoexhibitmajorchangeduringthe21stcentury
>Lowconfidenceintrenddirectionandmagnitude
>PrecipitationprojectionsforthePacificRegionarehighlyvariabledependingonemissionsscenarioandareinfluencedbymanyfactors(e.g.,ENSO/PDO/IPOphases,islandlocationand
AustralianBureauofMeteorologyandCSIRO2011;ChengandGaskin2011;Keeneretal.2012;Young2007
52
ClimateVariableandTrend
ObservedChange Trend RelativeChange
FutureProjections Confidence Uncertainty Source(s)
>Nochangeindroughtfrequencyfrom1942-2005,buteventsarecorrelatedwithElNinoconditions
geography).>Thereisverylittlelong-termannualprecipitationdataforAmericanSamoatoderivetrendsandinformprojections.
Tropicalstorms
CentralSouthPacific>Thenumberoftropicalstormsescalatingtocyclonesincreasedin1991-2010relativeto1970-1990.
é Low AmericanSamoaandSamoa>PotentialreductionincycloneactivityasstormtracksshifttowardtheCentralNorthPacificPacificIslands>Increasedstormintensityoverthenext70years
>Lowconfidenceintrenddirectionandmagnitude
>TropicalstormtrackswillbeinfluencedbyregionalvariabilityrelatedtoENSO,thePDO,andtheIPO>Theregionexhibitshighinter-annualvariabilityinstormactivity
AustralianBureauofMeteorologyandCSIRO2011;Emanuel2005;Lietal.2010;Seneviratneetal.2012;Yuetal.2010
Streamflow AmericanSamoa>Notrendintotalstreamflow,baseflow,orthenumberofextremelow-orhigh-flowdaysfrom1960-1995
Notrend
Low AmericanSamoa>Nospecificprojections,butstreamflowwilllikelyfluctuatewithprecipitationpatterns
>Lowconfidenceintrenddirectionandmagnitude
>Thereisverylittlelong-termdataforAmericanSamoatoderivetrendsandinformprojections.>ManystreamsinAmericanSamoaexperience
Keeneretal.2012
53
ClimateVariableandTrend
ObservedChange Trend RelativeChange
FutureProjections Confidence Uncertainty Source(s)
humanmodificationstostreamflow.
Sealevelrise Global>Globalsealevelsincreased3.4mm(+/-0.4mm)peryearfrom1993-2009,representingamuchfasterrateofrisethanthe20thcenturyWesternTropicalPacific>Relativeratesofsealevelrisematchedorexceededglobalratesfrom1993-2010duetoenhancedtradewindconditionsAmericanSamoa>Meansealevelincreased2.07mm/yearatPagoPagofrom1948-2006
é High PacificIslandsRegionwillexperienceroughlysamemeanaveragesealevelriseasglobaltrends.>By2100:-"Low"scenario:0.2m-"Intermediate-Low"scenario:0.5m-"Intermediate-High"scenario:1.2m-"High"scenario:2.0m>Increasedfrequencyofextremesealevelevents(linkedwithhightideevents)
>Highconfidenceintrenddirection>Lowconfidenceintrendmagnitude
>Magnitudeprojectionsvarybasedonmodelused(climatemodelvs.semi-empiricalmodel)andemissionsscenario.Additionally,sealevelrisecouldaccelerateifice-sheetdischargeincreases,whichislikelygivencurrenttrends.>Regionalvariationsinsealevelriselikelyduetolanddynamics(subsidence/uplift)andchangesinoceancirculation(ENSO/PDO)andwindpatterns.
ChengandGaskin2011;Marraetal.2012;Neremetal.2010
54
ClimateVariableandTrend
ObservedChange Trend RelativeChange
FutureProjections Confidence Uncertainty Source(s)
Waveheight PacificIslands>Notrendinwaveheightsavailable
é Low PacificIslands>IncreasedannualmeanwaveheightinthesoutherntropicalPacific,decreasedwaveheightsinmostotherPacificareas
Fewlong-termrecordsexist
Hemeretal.2013;Marraetal.2012;Seneviratneetal.2012;Youngetal.2011
Oceanacidification
Samoa>Aragonitesaturationstatedeclinedfrom4.5to4.1betweenthe18thcenturyand2000
ê High Samoa>By2060:aragonitesaturationstatewillfallbelow3.5,andcontinuedecliningthereafter
>Highconfidenceintrenddirection>Moderateconfidenceintrendmagnitude
>Carboncyclesaredifficulttomodel,andregionalbiasesanddownscalingchallengesexistincurrentmodels
AustralianBureauofMeteorologyandCSIRO2011
55
AppendixIV:CurrentandFutureAdaptationStrategiesTables
Table1.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforcoralreefs.Foreachcurrentmanagementactionparticipantsevaluateditseffectiveness(likelytoreduceclimatevulnerability)andfeasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andidentifiedclimaticandnon-climaticstressorstheactioncouldhelptoamelioratetheeffectsof.Givenactioneffectivenessandfeasibility,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornottheactionshouldcontinuetobeimplemented.Iftheactionwasrecommendedforcontinuedimplementation,participantsdetailedanychangesregardingwhereandhowtoimplementgivenclimatevulnerabilities.Lastly,participantsevaluatedwhethertherewerepotentialconflictswithorbenefitstootherresourcesfromactionimplementation.
CurrentManagementGoal:Protectcoralreefhabitat.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Increasedseasurfacetemperature• Oceanacidification• Changesinhighprecipitationevents:increasednitrification
CurrentManagementActionCurrent
EffectivenessCurrent
Feasibility
DoesActionAmeliorate
EffectsofAnyVulnerabilities?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities
OtherResourceConsiderations
Waterqualitytestingforbacteriaandnearshorenutrientinput,sometimesresultinginbeachclosures.
Moderate High Servesasanindicatorfor
possibleimpactstocoralreef
habitat
Yes Where:AreassusceptibletobleachingorcurrentlybleachedareasHow:- Implementvisibility/lightpenetrationmeasurementsinandoutsidereefslopesduringhighprecipitationeventsandpoorwater
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:BetterunderstandingofwaterqualitypulsesaroundcoralreefhabitatsOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:None
56
qualitymeasurementperiods
- Morestudiestounderstandwhatismakingit’swayintothebay(e.g.,whatmedicinesandtracersarefoundinnearshorewater)
Reducelitterandmarinedebris.
Moderate Moderate/High(ifenforced)
Yes Yes,andfullyenforce
Where:Territory-wideHow:Ensureisland-wideenforcementofregulationsagainstlittering
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:- Waterquality- Seaturtles(reducesplastics)
- Seabirds- CoralhabitatsOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:None
AmericanSamoaVillageMarineProtectedAreas(MPAs):co-managedbycommunitiesandlocalgovernment(DepartmentofMarineandWildlifeResources),includesNo-TakeMPAsandCommunity-BasedFisheriesManagementPrograms.EachoftheseMPAshasdifferent
Low
Somevillagesaredependentoncoral
reeffishforsubsistenceand
MPAeffectivenesshasnotbeen
proven
Vulnerabilitycould
High(bypermit)
Dependsonwillingnessof
villagestoenactandenforce
Yes,increasescoralreefhabitat
resiliencebymaintainingherbivorefishpopulations,
whicharegoodforcorals
Yes,sinceMPAshelplocallyprotect
herbivorereeffish,butshouldconsidermoreevaluationsofeffectiveness
Where:Inthe11VillageMPAsHow:- Ensurethatopeningsdonothappenduringhighstressconditionsandcoralbleachingeventstoallowforreefrecovery
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Allreef-dependentspeciesOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Subsistenceandculturalfisheriespractices
57
opening/closuretimesandlengths.
beveryhighifMPAopeningscoincidewithhighstressconditions(e.g.,highseasurfacetemperature
periods,bleachingevents)
- IncorporateamonitoringcomponenttoevaluateMPAeffectiveness
NodischargeandanchoringintheSanctuary
Moderate/High
EnforcementactionbyNOAAFisheries
OfficeofLawEnforcementand
DMWREnforcementthroughJointEnforcementAgreement.Effectivewith
properresourcesandifmore
mooringbuoysareinstalled.
Moderate Yes,helpswaterqualityandcoralreefhabitatifenforced
Yes,withpossible
expansioninotherareas
Where:Coralreefareas,particularlyinareasthataremorepronetobleachingorotherstressors(e.g.,crown-of-thornsstarfish)How:Requirenodischarge/noanchoringinotherareasbeyondtheSanctuary
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Allreefdependentspecies.Otherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:None
CurrentManagementGoal:Controlcrown-of-thornsstarfishoutbreaks.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Temperaturechanges–unknownhowcrown-of-thornsstarfishwillrespond• TemperatureandpH–ifthesefactorscausedecreasedcorals,theremaylessoutbreaks• Nutrientinput–mayaffectcrown-of-thornsstarfishlarvae
58
CurrentManagementActionCurrent
EffectivenessCurrent
Feasibility
DoesActionAmeliorate
EffectsofAnyVulnerabilities?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities
OtherResourceConsiderations
Targetcrown-of-thornsstarfisheradicationwithoxbile
High
Oxbileveryefficientsinceitrequiresonlyasingleinjection,andstarfishfallsapartin24hours.Hasbeenvery
effectiveonNorthTutuila.Requiresdedicatedteamof
divers.
Low/Moderate
Veryexpensive,andrequireslargeteamtoremoveallstarfish.Towboardsurveysareverytimeconsuming.Resource
intensiveandrequireslotsofinfrastructure.
Indirectly;leavesmoreviablecoral
populationstorepopulate/recoverfromotherstressors
Yes Where:- NPSAsurveyathotspots(previouseffortsconcentratedinTutuilaandnorthsideofislandtokeepcrown-of-thornsstarfishoutofthepark;verylittleknownaboutwhathappensonsouthshoreofTutuila,Aunu’u,andSwains,butlikelyoutbreaksherehavegoneunchecked)
- Deepreefs–mayberefugeforcrown-of-thornsstarfish,needtolearnmore,butcanbeexpensive,timeconsuming,anddangeroustoexplore–OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuariesre-breatherdiversperiodicallysurveyaroundTutuilaand
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Savingcoralsfromcrown-of-thornsstarfishpreservesfishhabitatOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:- Diversmaydamage/breakcorals
- Publictrustmaybeunderminedifactions/theorynotcommunicatedproperly
59
Aunu’uandwillbeconductingdeepwatersurveysin2017
How:- Obtainpermissionfrom/cooperatewithlocalvillagesforwaterandreefaccess
- Trainvolunteerstodistinguishbetweencrown-of-thornsstarfishscarsversusbleaching/diseaseimpactstoinformbiologists/responseteams
Manualeradicationofcrown-ofthornsstarfish(spearorbash)
Low/Moderate
Removaliseffectiveatsmall
scale,butverytimeconsuming.
Starfishcan
regenerate–mustberemovedfromwatertoensure
death.
Moredangerous/
Low
Timeconsumingandexpensive
Indirectly;leavesmoreviablecoral
populationstorepopulate/recoverfromotherstressors
Yes,butsomeconcernsaboutstarfish’sabilitytoreplicate/regenerate
Where:- Deeperreefswherecrown-of-thornsstarfishmayfindrefuge
- SouthshoreofTutuila,Aunu’u,andSwains(littleknownaboutwhat’shappeningthere)
- Usefulmethodforlocalvillagemanagement,butnotforlargescale
How:
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Savingcoralsfromcrown-of-thornspreservesfishhabitatOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Diversmaydamage/breakcorals
60
increaseddiverriskwithmorehandlingduetovenomous
spines.
- Trainspearfisherstoeradicatelocalpopulations(possiblycheaper)
- Obtainpermissionfrom/cooperatewithlocalvillagesforwaterandreefaccess
- Trainvolunteerstodistinguishbetweencrown-of-thornsstarfishscarsversusbleaching/diseaseimpactstoinformbiologists/responseteams
Bantakeoflargereeffish(e.g.,humpheadwrasse),whicharebelievedtobecrown-of-thornsstarfishpredators
Low/Unknown
Notknownwhichfishmayeatyoungcrown-of-thorns
starfish,needmoreinformation.
Low/Unknown
Needmoreinformationonwhichreeffishtoprotect;need
toidentifyeffectivepredator.
Scalealsoan
issue;50,000+crown-
of-thornsindividualspresent.
Indirectly;leavesmoreviablecoral
populationstorepopulate/recoverfromotherstressors
Yes,butneedmoreinfo
Where:Unknown;potentialfuturemanagementactiononceresearchisunderwayHow:Researchandidentifycrown-of-thornsstarfishpredatorsandeffectivenessofpredationonstarfishpopulations
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Couldhelplargefishpopulationsrecover(e.g.,humpheadwrasse)andeventuallyallowthesespeciestobefishedinthefutureOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:None
61
CurrentManagementGoal:Useeducationandoutreachtoprotectcoralreefsandbringthesitetothepeople.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Mostclimatechangeswillimpactcorals• Sedimentation• Reducedfundsforeducationandoutreach
CurrentManagementActionCurrent
EffectivenessCurrent
Feasibility
DoesActionAmeliorate
EffectsofAnyVulnerabilities?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities
OtherResourceConsiderations
SchoolprogramssuchasReefCheck(gearedtowardanyaudience;provideseducationoncoralfragilityandimportanceofcoralhabitatsoaudiencecanbecomeenvironmentalstewards)
Moderate/High
Spacelimited,requiresalotof
stafftime
Low/Moderate
Spacelimited
Yes,helpsimprove
understandingandsupportforreefprotectionandactiontoincreasereefresilience
Yes Where:Territory-wideHow:- Mergeandconsolidatefederalandlocalprogramstoreachmorepeople
- CombineSanctuaryknowledgewithlocalknowledge;uselocalgovernmentstohelpbridgeconnectionsterritory-wide
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Allreef-dependentspeciesOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:None
Haveseveraleducationprogramscateredtodifferentagegroupsthatlinksconnectionsbetweenlandandsea- Currentlyworkingon
Moderate/High
Low/Moderate
Spaceislimited
Yes,helpsimprove
understandingandsupportforreefprotectionandactionto
Yes Where:- Alllocalschools- BeyondAmericanSamoa(virtually)
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Allreef-dependentspecies
62
schoolcurriculumlessons- SanctuarySummer
ScienceintheVillageprograms:haveschoolkidsvisitoceancenterortakeeco-tourstolearnbasicscienceandcomplementlessonslearnedduringschoolyear
- Teachertrainings
increasereefresilience
How:- Mergeandconsolidatefederalandlocalprogramstoreachmorepeople
Otherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:None
Virtualexperienceforstudents,allowingthemtoseechanges,includingclimatechangeimpactswithspecialgoggles.- “ScienceoftheSphere”–
has3000datasets,includingclimatechangetopics
Moderate/High
Visualizationisapowerfultool
Low/Moderate
Spaceislimited
Yes,helpsimprove
understandingandsupportforreefprotectionandactiontoincreasereefresilience
Yes Where:OceanCenterHow:Uselocalclimatedataandmakedatamoreavailableforsharing
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Allreef-dependentspeciesOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:None
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Table2.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforcoralreefs.Actioneffectiveness(likelihoodofreducingvulnerability),feasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andtimeframe(near:<5years;mid:5-15years;long:>15years)werealsoevaluatedforeachadaptationaction.
FutureManagementGoal:Decreasenutrientinputandsedimentationintocoastalwaters.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityEnsurepiggerycomplianceandenforceEPAregulations
Low/Moderate
Initiativeisalreadyinplace,needsregulatorycompliance
High
Needtofollowthrough;augmentthroughvillage
structure,lookat
healthangles
Near/Mid
EPAdependent,needsmoreenforcement
Where:Island-wide:smallpiggeries,family-basedpiggeries,communitypiggerieslikecommunitygardens(althoughcommunitypiggeriesmaycauseconflict–diseasespreading;maybeworkinsmallervillages)How:- Subcontractorfundingtohelpimplement
- Publiccampaign/outreach
Collaboration:EPA;VillagesdetermineiffamilyorcommunitypiggeriesInternal:Capacityneeded:Fundingforpubliccampaigns
Supportsewerexpansionsandnewwastewatertreatmentplants;supportproperseptictankinstallmentinproperlocations;removeexistingcesspools
High
High
Near/Mid
Long-Newwastewatertreatment
Where:Coastalareacommunitysepticsystems;leaseforthevillagesepticsystemHow:- Workwithlandowners;cesspoolremovalmayhavepropertyrightsissues
Collaboration:- External:EPA,ASPACapacityneeded:- New,updatedinventoryofexistingcesspools
- Funding(millions)fornewcentralwastewaterandcontinuedremoval
64
Plantmoretrees/plantsincoastalareasandinvillagestoreducerunoff.Plantvetivergrassbystreamsalongwithnativetrees.Ensurenewconstructionprojectsaresetbackawayfromstreamstopreventerosion.
High(coastal)
Needtolookathighlyresistantcoastalplants
Low(upstream)
High(coastal)
Low(upstream)
Near,aslongasthereis
interestinvillagesandcommunity-basedgroups
Where:CommunityvillagesHow:- Workwithvillages–provideincentivesthroughvillagesandothervolunteerprograms
Collaboration:- External:EPA,Villagemayororpastor
- Internal:Communityoutreach
Capacityneeded:Publicoutreachandeducation
Ensurecomplianceofcoastaldevelopmentsetbacks- Enforce200ft(60.96m)
forcoastaldevelopment,25ft(7.62m)fromwetland,50ft(15.24m)forcommercialdevelopment
- Increasesetbacksandadda25ft(7.62m)bufferfromstreams
Moderate/High
Low
Needsenforcement
Near/Mid,ifthereisa
will
Where:Streams,wetlands,coastalareasHow:Developamendments
Collaboration:- External:EPA,villages,communities,ASAP
- Internal:CoastalZoneManagement
Capacityneeded:- Enforcement- Outreach- Funding
Startawetlandsrestorationproject
High
Restorationplan
ModeratePlant
mortalitycanbeanissue
(e.g.,CoconutPoint)
Near Where:CoconutPoint,Leone,Masefau,VatiaHow:Monitorforsuccess
Collaboration:- External:EPA,DMWR,schoolgroups
- Internal:CoastalZoneManagement
Capacityneeded:Moreresearchtoinformsuccess
65
Increaselawenforcementandfinesforanyviolations(wetlands)
Low
Damagehasbeendone,butthereareopportunitiesfor
improvementinthefuture
Moderate/High
Near Where:Island-wideHow:Increaseenforcement
Collaboration:- External:EPA,villages,ASPA
- Internal:ASPACapacityneeded:Moreresearchtoinformsuccess
Education/outreachonstrengtheningvillagelaws–strengthenvillagecouncilswhilerespectingdifferentlawsofeachvillage- Villageanti-litterlaws:
enforcementforgarbageandfishing,haveissuedfinesinpast
- Gatherevidence
High(education) Moderate Near Where:Island-wideHow:Workwithvillagesandvillagecouncils
Collaboration:- External:EPA,villages,ASPA
- Internal:VillagesCapacityneeded:- Funding- Staff
Continuestormwaterbestmanagementpracticesinitiative- Requirethatnew
developmenthaspermeableareasandraingardens
High,ifsuccessfullyimplemented
Moderate(targetingstormwateroutfalls)
Near Where:Island-wideHow:Moreeducationingarbageremovalindrainsnotfilledbydirt
Collaboration:- External:EPA,USGS,ASPA
- Internal:DepartmentofPublicWorks,ASPA
Capacityneeded:Funding
66
Removeallwastewateroutfalls;upgraderawsewagedischargestosecondarytreatment
High,ifsuccessfullyimplemented
Moderate Near Where:WhereexistingoutfallsarefoundAunu’uHow:Removeoutfalls
Collaboration:- External:EPA,ASPA- Internal:DepartmentofPublicWorks,ASPA
Capacityneeded:Funding
FutureManagementGoal:Coolingforbleachingpreventionandreduction.
AdaptationAction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityMovedeeper,coolerwatertoshallow,warmerareas–pipedowntocoldwater,pumpup,andpipetodistribute
High,butneedtomakesureit’sstableincaseof
cyclones
Low,basedoncasestudyfromHawaiʻiandGreatBarrierReef
Long Where:Hotspotbytheairport,wherethereisahightemperaturechangeandsurfacetemperature.Thissiteisfavorableduetothermaldynamicsandbecauseitisclosetoshore,buttherehasn’tbeenafeasibilitystudyforthissite.ASPAlookingatmainstreamrenewablewindandsolar.How:- Pipes/infrastructureforthermalcooling
- Permittingandinfrastructure- ExaminelessonslearnedfromHawaiʻiandGreatBarrierReef
Collaboration:- External:engineering,AmericanSamoaRenewableEnergyCommittee,OceanThermalEnergyConversiontechnology
- Internal:ASPA,DMWR
Capacityneeded:- Funding(expensive)
67
FutureManagementGoal:Developresilientmarineprotectedareas(MPAs)–designfutureMPAsinareasthatareclimateresilientandeffectiveformultiplespecies(considernetworkofMPAs).
AdaptationAction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&Capacity- DoaGAPSanalysison
whatisalreadyinplaceandwhatisworkingtoidentifypriorityareasforprotectionandwhatchanges/additionsareneeded
- Exploredevelopingland-connectedMPAsandincludehabitatprotectionforallspecies(e.g.,seabirds,seaturtles)
Moderate/High
Moderate Long(ongoing)
Where:- Westsidereefs,somebaysontheNorthside
- MPAwithnotaketohelpherbivorefish/locateinareaswithgoodwaterquality
- LookatMPAsofcontiguouscoralreefthathasdonewellhistorically;lookatareasthatdowellaftercoralreefs
How:- PromoteandincreasecommunityacceptanceofnewMPAs,whichmaytakealongtime;instillvaluesofhabitatimportance
- Shiftfromfishing-basedMPAs(meanttorebuildfishstocks)toecosystem-basedMPAsandcoralreef-focusedMPAs
Collaboration:- External:federal,local,andterritory
- Internal:Contractor/DMWR,CRAG/Parksrefuge
Capacityneeded:- Funding- Staff- Publicsupport
FutureManagementGoal:Assembleacoralreefdatabaseanddevelopadatasharingmethodformanagementanddecisionsupport.
AdaptationAction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityDevelopaneasyexchangeandaccessibilityofinformationtoallowmanagerstoassesschangesovertime
Moderate/High
High(isavailable)
Near Where:- AmericanSamoaCoralReefDATABASE(federaldataarchive)
- Localsurveydata- MarineProtectedAreas
Collaboration:- External:NOAACoralReefEcosystemDivision,universities,datasharingplans
68
- Currently,notallprojectshaveonedataaccesspointinAmericanSamoa;wouldbegoodtohaveacentralizeddataaccesspointforinformationsharing
How:Makesuredataarebeingmadeavailabletoall
- Internal:DMWR/NationalParkService
Capacityneeded:Keypersonnelineachagencythatisresponsibleforsharing
FutureManagementGoal:Usecoralnurserygardensforrestoration.Targetnurseriesofbleachingresistantstrands.Makesuretohavecontrolsites.
AdaptationAction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacitySelectcoralthatdoesnotbleach(includinghistoricbleaching).- TestAcroporaformosa(Staghorn)incoralheattanksbeforetransplanting
- Needtolookatallphysicalparameters
High(ifwaterqualityis
good)
High(atlocalizedscale;largerscalewouldrequiremorefunding)
Near(moresites,
moreinvolvement
frommultiplepeople)
Where:Selectsiteswherewaterqualityisgoodandotherdisturbancesarelow.PagoPagoisnotagoodarea(disturbedduetodredging).How:- Surveytoidentifycoralsthatarenotbleaching
- Teachvolunteerstopropagate- UseresilientcoralsfromAlafau,Alofau,Anouli,andOfu;takemultiplecoloniesforvariation
Collaboration:- External:Universities(Stanford,OldDominion,UniversityofHawaiʹi)
- Internal:DMWR/NationalParkService
Capacityneeded:- Volunteers–teachthemhowtopropagate
- ASCCMarineScienceProgram
- Funding
69
Table3.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsformangrovesandPalaLagoon.Foreachcurrentmanagementactionparticipantsevaluateditseffectiveness(likelytoreduceclimatevulnerability)andfeasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andidentifiedclimaticandnon-climaticstressorstheactioncouldhelptoamelioratetheeffectsof.Givenactioneffectivenessandfeasibility,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornottheactionshouldcontinuetobeimplemented.Iftheactionwasrecommendedforcontinuedimplementation,participantsdetailedanychangesregardingwhereandhowtoimplementgivenclimatevulnerabilities.Lastly,participantsevaluatedwhethertherewerepotentialconflictswithorbenefitstootherresourcesfromactionimplementation.
CurrentManagementGoal:Controlresidential/commercialdevelopmentnearmangrovestoprotectmangrovehabitat.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Sealevelrise(causesmangrovedamageormortality)• Storms(causesmangrovedamageormortality)
CurrentManagementAction
CurrentEffectiveness
CurrentFeasibility
DoesActionAmeliorate
EffectsofAnyVulnerabilities?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGivenClimateVulnerabilities
OtherResourceConsiderations
Preventbuildingovermangrovesthroughpermittingprocess(ProjectNotificationandReviewSystem–PRNS)
Moderate Low-Moderate
(enforcement)
Reduceseffectsoferosionandstormevents
Yes Where:VillageswithshorelineownershipHow:- Increasetrainingonimportanceofmangroves
- Increaseknowledgeofpermittingprocess
- Increasesetbacksandbuffersbehindmangrovesandintegrateintopermittingprocess–currentsetbacksare~25-50ft(7.62-15.24m).Isthissufficientundersealevelrisescenarios?Shoulditbeincreased?
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Healthymangrovesprovidefishhabitatandde-nitrificationbenefits.Alsobenefitscrabsandreefs.Otherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Complicationsascoastallandownersareprimarilyvillagesbutpermittingisbyagencies.
70
Table4.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsformangrovesandPalaLagoon.Actioneffectiveness(likelihoodofreducingvulnerability),feasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andtimeframe(near:<5years;mid:5-15years;long:>15years)werealsoevaluatedforeachadaptationaction.
FutureManagementGoal:Reducenon-climatestressorssuchasdebrisfromstreamsthatdestroy/smothermangrovehabitat.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityRemovedebrisfrommangrovehabitats
Moderate Moderate Near Where:HighprioritywatershedsandmangrovehabitatssuchasthoseinPala,Leone,andVatiaHow:Engagevolunteersandvillageresidents
Collaboration:AmericanSamoaPowerAuthority,LeTausagigroup(educationcoordinatorsfromdifferentagencies),villagers,AmericanSamoaCoastalManagementProgram(leadcoordinatorofPermitNotificationandReviewSystem),DMWR,Governor’soffice,ASEPACapacityneeded:Peopleontheground–volunteers,staff
Educatepeopleontheeffectofdebrisonmangrovesandenforcebanondebristhrownoutupstream
High Moderate Near Where:HighprioritywatershedsandmangrovehabitatssuchasthoseinPala,Leone,andVatiaHow:Engagevolunteersandvillageresidents
Collaboration:AmericanSamoaPowerAuthority,LeTausagigroup(educationcoordinatorsfromdifferentagencies),villagers,AmericanSamoaCoastalManagementProgram(leadcoordinatorofPermitNotificationandReviewSystem),DMWR,Governor’soffice,ASEPACapacityneeded:Funding,policychangestocreatestricterregulationsondebris
Increaseuseofstreamcatchmentstocatchdebris
High High Near Where:HighprioritywatershedsandmangrovehabitatssuchasthoseinPala,Leone,andVatia
Collaboration:AmericanSamoaPowerAuthority,LeTausagigroup(educationcoordinatorsfromdifferentagencies),villagers,AmericanSamoaCoastalManagementProgram(leadcoordinatorof
71
How:Identifyareasmostsuitableforplacementofcatchments
PermitNotificationandReviewSystem),DMWR,Governor’soffice,ASEPACapacityneeded:Mayneedpermitsforplacementsofcatchments,funding,permissionfromlandownersforplacement
FutureManagementGoal:Increasepublicknowledgeofimportanceofmangrovesandincreaselocalenforcement.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityCreatemangroveeducationandoutreachcampaigntoincreaseunderstandingofmangrovesandunderstandingofexistingguidelinesinpoliciesthatprotectmangroves
Moderate High Near Where:AllareasHow:- Radio- Schoolcurriculum- Cheap/localTVprograms(KVCK)- Newspapers
Collaboration:DMWR,EPA,CZMP(allhaveowneducationprograms),LeTausagigroupCapacityneeded:Funding
Createtargetedvillageeducationandoutreachcampaigntoincreaselikelihoodofregulationenforcement
Moderate/High
High Near Where:VillagesHow:OfficeofSamoanAffairs
Collaboration:VillagechiefsCapacityneeded:Funding
72
Table5.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforwaterquality.Foreachcurrentmanagementactionparticipantsevaluateditseffectiveness(likelytoreduceclimatevulnerability)andfeasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andidentifiedclimaticandnon-climaticstressorstheactioncouldhelptoamelioratetheeffectsof.Givenactioneffectivenessandfeasibility,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornottheactionshouldcontinuetobeimplemented.Iftheactionwasrecommendedforcontinuedimplementation,participantsdetailedanychangesregardingwhereandhowtoimplementgivenclimatevulnerabilities.Lastly,participantsevaluatedwhethertherewerepotentialconflictswithorbenefitstootherresourcesfromactionimplementation.
CurrentManagementGoal:Improvewaterquality.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Heavierrainevents–increasedinflowtosewagelinesandwatervolumeneedingtreatment,increasedgroundwaterinfiltration,increasedsedimentand
debrisrunoff• Increasednumberofstorms/increasedstormstrength–increaseddamagetoinfrastructure,increasedTamaligitreetoppling• Increasedcostofelectricity• Saltwaterintrusionduetorisinggroundwater• Sealevelrise–increaseddamagetoinfrastructure,groundwaterimpacts
CurrentManagement
ActionCurrent
EffectivenessCurrent
Feasibility
DoesActionAmeliorate
EffectsofAnyVulnerabilities?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGivenClimateVulnerabilities
OtherResourceConsiderations
Improvesewageeffluentqualityandsewagetreatment- UVlights- Fixleakingpipes
High(UVeliminationofpathogens)
Moderate(decreasedeffluent
volumebyreducingleaks)
Low(managing
nutrients,pharmaand
High(UV)
Moderate(decreasedleaks–
replacingpipes,ASPAoffersfreesepticpumpingaspartof
groundwaterprotection
recoveryfee)
- PathogensremovedbyUVlight
- Reducingleaksmoderatelydecreaseseffluentreleasedintogroundwaterandsurfacewater.
- Newdiffuserhelpsspread
UV–yes
Decreaseleaks–yes
Newdiffuser–yes
Where:- Low-lyingcommunities- System-wide- Treatmentplantsandpowerplantsmayneedtobemoved
How:- Movetreatmentplantsincommunities
- Createleak-proofsystem- Increaserenewablesandenergyefficiency
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:- Decreasedpathogensandnutrientsbenefitsmanyresources
- Leakproofingdecreasescostsandimprovespublichealth
Otherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:- Limitedmoneyandland
73
fluorocarbons) Low
(pharmaandfluorocarbons)
effluentandreducesnutrientconcentrations
- Increasedenergyconsumptionwouldincreasecost(needtospeeduprenewableenergy)
Improvegroundwaterquality- Fixleakingpipes- Sealcesspoolsandconverttoseptic
- Oilcollection- Pesticidecontrol- Identifyresilientaquifers
- Microfiltrationplants
High(pipes,
cesspool)
Moderate(oil–highforallwhouseit)
Moderate
(pesticides–highiffarmers
comply)Aquifersare
resilient;higherelevationandmicrofilterswouldaddto
capacity
Moderate(cesspoolconversionrequires
managementbyfamiliestoworkoverlong
term)
Protect/improvegroundwater
quality
Yes Where:- Farms(pesticides)- Low-lyingcommunitiesHow:- Movelow-lyingsepticsystems
- Monitorbecausesealevelrisemaydecreaseaquifervolume
- Create/enforcesoilandpesticideprotocolsthroughoutwatersheds
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:- Increasedwaterqualityandquantity
- Increasedwatershedhabitat
Otherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:- Limitedmoneyandland
Improvesurfaceandstormwaterquality- Netsatstreammouthstocatchdebris
- Raingardens/soakbeds
- Tamaligitreeremoval
- PNRSsedimentrequirement
Moderate(nets)
High(rain
gardens/soakpits–ifplacedcorrectlyandin
sufficientnumbers)
Low
High(nets–if
there’sawill,butreallyneedtostopdebris)
Low
(raingardens/soakpits)
Capturesedimentanddebrisrunoff
Yes Where:BystreamsHow:Placenetsatstreammouths
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:Debris/sedimentcapturebenefitscoralreefsandnearshorehabitats/speciesOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Noanswerprovidedbyparticipants
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Table6.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforwaterquality.Actioneffectiveness(likelihoodofreducingvulnerability),feasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andtimeframe(near:<5years;mid:5-15years;long:>15years)werealsoevaluatedforeachadaptationaction.
FutureManagementGoal:Developandinstillasenseofresponsibilityinprotectingwatershedsanddisposingofwasteandtrashappropriately.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityIncreasepubliceducationandoutreach
High High Near(1-2years)
Where:- ProjectNotificationandReviewSystem(PNRS):publicworksenforcementofbuildingcodes
- AgencycollaborationwithvillagesHow:- Issueticketsandfines
Collaboration:ASPA,ASEPA,PNRS,ASDOE,PublicWorks,OfficeofSamoanAffairs,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,ParksandRecreation,FWS,WRRC,UniversityofHawaiʻi,SeaGrant,DOCCapacityneeded:- Funding- Policychange- Increasedpoliticalcooperationandwill
Enforceanti-litteringlaw
High High Near
Implementandenforceenvironmentaldisposalfeetoassistwithfunding
High High Near
Findalternativestopollutantswedon’thavethecapacitytodisposeandtreat(e.g.,PFCs)
High High Near
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Table7.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforgiantclams.Foreachcurrentmanagementactionparticipantsevaluateditseffectiveness(likelytoreduceclimatevulnerability)andfeasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andidentifiedclimaticandnon-climaticstressorstheactioncouldhelptoamelioratetheeffectsof.Givenactioneffectivenessandfeasibility,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornottheactionshouldcontinuetobeimplemented.Iftheactionwasrecommendedforcontinuedimplementation,participantsdetailedanychangesregardingwhereandhowtoimplementgivenclimatevulnerabilities.Lastly,participantsevaluatedwhethertherewerepotentialconflictswithorbenefitstootherresourcesfromactionimplementation.
CurrentManagementGoal:Increasegiantclampopulations.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Increasedseasurfacetemperature• Oceanacidification• Erosion/Sedimentation(affectswaterclarityandquality)
CurrentManagement
ActionCurrent
EffectivenessCurrent
Feasibility
DoesActionAmeliorate
EffectsofAnyVulnerabilities?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGivenClimateVulnerabilities OtherResourceConsiderations
Enforceharvestregulationstoavoidover-harvestofthisculturallypopularfoodExistingregulations:- Clamstakenforconsumptionmustbeatleast6inchesinshelllength
- Clamstakenforsalemustbeatleast7inchesinshelllength
High/Moderate
Low–enforcementrequiresfunding
Helpsmaintainahealthypopulation.
Doesnotreallyaddressclimatevulnerabilities,
buthelpsaddressthenon-climatefactorofover-
fishing
Yes Where:Territory-wideHow:Needbetterlawenforcement.Workwithvillagecouncilstoensureminimumsizelimitsarelocallyenforced.
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:LessfishinggenerallyprotectscoralreefhabitatsOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Noneknown
76
- Prohibitionontakeofclamsinthesanctuary
Table8.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforgiantclams.Actioneffectiveness(likelihoodofreducingvulnerability),feasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andtimeframe(near:<5years;mid:5-15years;long:>15years)werealsoevaluatedforeachadaptationaction.
FutureManagementGoal:Increasegiantclampopulations/stocksbysupportingfisheriesinshallowwatersandstockingclamsindeeperwaters.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&Capacity- Supporthatcheryforstockinginshallowwatertosupportfisheriesandstockingclamsindeepwaterbeyond100ft(30.48m).tosupportstockreplenishment
- Conductageneticstudyofgiantclamsbetweenislandstodiversifyseedsource
High(50,000clamsperyear)
Low(funding
dependent)
Near-toMid-term(takesabout5yearsforharvesting
time)
Where:WorkwithvillagecounciltogetpermissionandplaceinlocalvillageswithgoodbayandwaterqualityHow:Workwithvillagestoenforceminimumsizefishing;andtherequirementtosellthegiantclamwiththeshell(6”personal;7”commercial)
Collaboration:- External:UniversityMasterstudenttoworkwithlocalschoolsandlocalvillagetoincreasesupportforgiantclamsrestockingefforts
- Internal:NationalParkService,AmericanConservationExperience(NGO)
Capacityneeded:- Graduatestudentsforcommunityoutreachandstudyingimpactsofthermalstressinhatchery
- Funding
77
Table9.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforreeffish.Foreachcurrentmanagementactionparticipantsevaluateditseffectiveness(likelytoreduceclimatevulnerability)andfeasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andidentifiedclimaticandnon-climaticstressorstheactioncouldhelptoamelioratetheeffectsof.Givenactioneffectivenessandfeasibility,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornottheactionshouldcontinuetobeimplemented.Iftheactionwasrecommendedforcontinuedimplementation,participantsdetailedanychangesregardingwhereandhowtoimplementgivenclimatevulnerabilities.Lastly,participantsevaluatedwhethertherewerepotentialconflictswithorbenefitstootherresourcesfromactionimplementation.
CurrentManagementGoal:Protectreeffishpopulationsandensuresustainablefishingpractices.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Stressedcoralhabitatswillimpactfishpopulations• Climatechangesmaybetemporarilybeneficialforherbivorefish• Theremaybeabuseofsubsistencefishingprivilegesforcommercialuse
CurrentManagement
ActionCurrent
EffectivenessCurrent
Feasibility
DoesActionAmeliorateEffectsof
AnyVulnerabiliti
es?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGivenClimateVulnerabilities OtherResourceConsiderations
Fullyutilizeandenforcefishingregulations- 2001AmericanSamoaGovernorExecutiveOrderbannedSCUBAfishingduetodepletionofreefpiscivoresandherbivoresandincreaseinfishingefficacy.
- Minimumfishingnetsize,andnets
High(SCUBAspearfishing)–nomoreneedforindustryinfillingSCUBAtanksfor
fishing,morecontrollednow
Moderate/Low(otherfishing)–needmoreregulationandenforcement
Moderate/Low–
Regulationfeasibility/enforcement
issue
Yes,butlimited
Yes Where:Territory-wideHow:Possiblelimitsforreeffishincludingherbivores
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:- Moreprotectionforherbivorousfish
- ProtectscoralreefhabitatOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Noneknown
78
cannotbeleftovernight;netscanonlybeleftunattended3-5hours.
- Dailycatchlimitsexistinfederalwater(3-200miles)(5-322km).
- CommunityFisheriesManagementProgram(0-3miles)(0-5km.)
- Non-destructivefishingruleinterritorialwaters
- Existingno-take-areas
Encouragetraditionalandculturalfishingmethods–thefa’a-Samoa“Samoanway”–thefollowingsanctuaryareasencouragetraditionalandnon-destructivefishingpractices:Fagalua/Fogāma’a,Aunu’uMultipurposeArea,Ta’u,SwainsIsland
Low/Moderate Moderate/High
Yes,butlimited
Yes,iftrulytraditionalfishing
Where:AllvillagesHow:Makesureonlytruetraditionalfishingmethodsareallowed
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:BenefitscoralreefhabitatbyreducingfishingimpactsOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Noneknown
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Table10.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforreeffish.Actioneffectiveness(likelihoodofreducingvulnerability),feasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andtimeframe(near:<5years;mid:5-15years;long:>15years)werealsoevaluatedforeachadaptationaction.
FutureManagementGoal:Promotediverseandhealthyreeffishpopulations.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacitySetsizelimits–makesuretheyareoverthereproductiveage
Moderate/High(ifenforced)
Low–lackofsocialorpoliticalsupport
Near/Mid–needsDMWRsupport
Where:Territory-wideHow:NewlegislationsandregulationsaswellasenforcementcapacityBroad-reachingeducationonimportanceofherbivorefish,maybethroughvillages
Collaboration:External:VillagecouncilsInternal:DMWRCapacityneeded:Socialbuy-inPolicychange
Setcatchlimits–numberofindividualfishperday(ifsold,commerciallicensestillneeded)
Moderate/High(ifenforced)
Low–complicatedbymanyspeciespresentanddifferentsize
Near/Mid–needsDMWRsupport
Educationaloutreachtoencouragenottofishduringbleachingeventsandtohighlighttheimportanceherbivorereeffish
Moderate/Low(takeslotsoftime)
Moderate Near
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Table11.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforsharksandrays.Actioneffectiveness(likelihoodofreducingvulnerability),feasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andtimeframe(near:<5years;mid:5-15years;long:>15years)werealsoevaluatedforeachadaptationaction.
FutureManagementGoal:Increaseresearchonsharksandrays.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityIncreaseresearchtoidentifyspawning/rearingcriticalhabitat(mostareprotected)
High High Near Where:Territory-wide;inharbors,AirportLagoon,offshoreSaileleHow:Canbedonebutexpensive- PacificIslandsFisheryScienceCentercruisesmaypresentanopportunity
- Interviewfishermentoaskabouthistoricvs.currentpresence
Collaboration:- DMWR- Outsideacademics- HawaiʻiInstituteofMarineBiologyCapacityneeded:- Funding- Staff
Increaseresearchonclimatechangeeffectsonsharksandrays
Moderate Moderate Near Where:N/AHow:Academia
Collaboration:AcademiaCapacityneeded:- Funding- Staff
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Table12.Currentmanagementgoals,potentialvulnerabilities,andcurrentmanagementactionsforseaturtles.Foreachcurrentmanagementactionparticipantsevaluateditseffectiveness(likelytoreduceclimatevulnerability)andfeasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andidentifiedclimaticandnon-climaticstressorstheactioncouldhelptoamelioratetheeffectsof.Givenactioneffectivenessandfeasibility,participantsthenevaluatedwhetherornottheactionshouldcontinuetobeimplemented.Iftheactionwasrecommendedforcontinuedimplementation,participantsdetailedanychangesregardingwhereandhowtoimplementgivenclimatevulnerabilities.Lastly,participantsevaluatedwhethertherewerepotentialconflictswithorbenefitstootherresourcesfromactionimplementation.
CurrentManagementGoal:Protectturtlenestinghabitat.Potentialvulnerabilities:• Erosion• Sealevelrise(RoseAtollisamajornestingsiteforgreenturtles,andisonly10feetabovesealevel)• Seawallsandotherphysicalbarriers
CurrentManagement
ActionCurrent
EffectivenessCurrent
Feasibility
DoesActionAmeliorate
EffectsofAnyVulnerabilities?
ContinuetoImplementActionGiven
ClimateVulnerabilities?
Where/HowtoImplementGivenClimateVulnerabilities OtherResourceConsiderations
Requirepermitsforsandmining–notalotofspacefornestingonTutuila
Low–noenforcement
Low Newerosionofnestinghabitat
Yes Where:Territory-wide:areaswithinTutuila,Ofu&OlosegawherenestingisalreadyhighHow:- Enforcement:possiblytransitionmanagementauthorityfromParksandRecreationtoanotherentity
- Education:communitytakingsandtomakeconcreteforvillagegraves;increaseeducationoncumulativeimpactsofeveryone“takingalittlebit”
- Createlow-costopportunities
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:SeabirdsandshorebirdsOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Noanswerprovidedbyparticipants
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toreducesandremoval(e.g.,possiblycrushglassbottlestocreate“fake”sandthatcanbeusedforconcrete;encouragegreen/brownburials)
- Educationonbenefitsofconservingsandinordertoprotectculturaluses;usetopromoteconservation
- Createculturaldesignationofsandminingsites
- Protectparrotfishtohelpcreatesand
AmendtheProjectNotificationandReviewSystem(PNRS)setbackrequirement–100ft(30.48m).fromshoreline
Low Low Newerosionofnestinghabitat
Yes Where:Territory-wideHow:- Functionality:lotsofdevelopmentstillhappensveryclosetoshoreline,soincreasecomplianceandenforcement
Educationandknowledgeofpermittingprocess
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:SeabirdsandshorebirdsOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Noanswerprovidedbyparticipants
Monitortodetectnumberofturtlesandeggs,satellitetaggingtotrackmigrationroutes
High(RoseAtoll–
majornestingsite)
Low
(Manu’a,Tutuila
becausenotmanyturtles)
High Noanswerprovidedbyparticipants
Yes Where:Territory-wideHow:- Documentlocations,includingchanges:datacouldhelpinformfuturelocationsofdevelopmentanddesignatecriticalhabitat.
- Trackturtlesthatmigrateto
Otherresourcesactionbenefits:NoanswerprovidedbyparticipantsOtherresourceswithpotentialconflicts:Noanswerprovidedbyparticipants
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FijiandFrenchPolynesia(complexmigrations)
- Identifygeneticstructureofpopulation
- Increaseeducationtodecreasefishingduringnestingseasons–createcollaborationswithnewsagenciestoletpublicknowwhennestingoccurs
- Increasepublicknowledgetohelpreportnests(“ISavedaTurtle”t-shirtorpatch)
- Getmoretemperatureloggersoutfortrackingtemperature
- SPREP:taggingdatabasessoyoucantrackwhohastaggedwhat
- MonitoringbeachprofilesatRoseAtolltotrackchangesfromstormsandcyclones–alsoLiDAR
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Table13.Potentialfuturemanagementgoals,adaptationactions,andactionimplementationdetailsincludingwhereandhowtoimplementandcollaborationandcapacityneedsforseaturtles.Actioneffectiveness(likelihoodofreducingvulnerability),feasibility(likelihoodofimplementation),andtimeframe(near:<5years;mid:5-15years;long:>15years)werealsoevaluatedforeachadaptationaction.
FutureManagementGoal:Protectturtlenestinghabitatbypreservingsand.
Adaptationaction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityCreatebanonsandmining(mayrequirechangeinenforcementagencyandneedtoincludeprovisionstoallowforculturaluse)
Moderate Low Mid Where:KnownnestingbeachesHow:MayrequirechangeinenforcementagencydictatedbyGovernor’sOffice.LobbytheFono.
Collaboration:ParksandRecreation,VillageCouncils,Governor’sOffice,Fono,OfficeofSamoanAffairsCapacityneeded:- Policychange- Funding- Staff
Increaseeducationforwhysandiscriticalforturtles
High High Near Where:Territory-wideandVillageCouncilmeetingdays(onceamonth)How:DOC/CoastalZoneManagement/IncorporateintocurriculumforDOE,ASCC
Collaboration:DOC,CoastalZoneManagementProgram,DOE,ASCC,ASEPA,DMWR,OfficeofSamoanAffairsCapacityneeded:Funding
FutureManagementGoal:Protectturtlenestsfromheatstress.
AdaptationAction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityIncreasenativegrass/vegetationplantingtoprovideshade
High Moderate Near Where:KnownnestingbeachesplusbeacheswithhighpotentialfornestsHow:- Collectseeds/cuttingsforpropagation
Collaboration:VillageCouncils,DMWR,ASCC,LandGrant,OfficeofSamoanAffairsCapacityneeded:- Staff
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nearbeaches- VillagesshouldtakeinitiativeforlocalplantingsLeverageandexpandTerritorycoastalvegetationrestorationefforts(living
shorelines,coastalraingardens)toprotectturtles
- Funding- Landfornursery
FutureManagementGoal:Protectturtlesbyincreasinglightmanagement.
AdaptationAction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityUseturtle-friendlystreetlights- Paintoverlights;paintsidethatfacesbeaches
- Usespecialtypesoflightbulbsalongshorelines
High High Near Where:Alongcoastlines.How:PublicWorks,workingwithDMWRandvillagecouncils
Collaboration:PublicWorks,DMWR,LeTausagi,OfficeofSamoanAffairsCapacityneeded:Funding
Increaseeducationforcoastalresidentsandbusinessestoturnlightsoffduringnestingseason- Motionsensorlightsmayalreadybeinuse
High High Near Where:Coastalvillages.How:DMWR,LeTuasagischoolprograms,outreachprogramsinvillages
Collaboration:DMWR,LeTausagi,OfficeofSamoanAffairsCapacityneeded:Funding
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FutureManagementGoal:Createeducation/outreachcampaignaboutseaturtlesandtheirhabitat.
AdaptationAction Effectiveness Feasibility Timeframe Implementation(where/how) Collaboration&CapacityCreatewidespreadpublicawarenesscampaign
High High
Near Where:Territory-wide,villagecouncilre:nestinghabitatsHow:- Buildoffofschoolprograms- Targetedduringpeaknestingseason- Mediablitz–commercials,billboards,schoolprograms
Collaboration:DMWR,Sanctuaries,NationalParkServiceCapacityneeded:- Staff- Funding
Createacitizenscienceprogramforresidentstoreportwhattheysee
High High Near Where:Territory-wideHow:- Createorfindprotocolsfortrackingandreportingturtlepresenceandnests
- Schoolprograms- Makephonenumbertoreportpresenceandnon-compliance;phonenumbershouldbecatchy/inajingle
- Perhapscreatevolunteer-tourismopportunities(EarthWatch)
Collaboration:DMWR,Sanctuaries,NationalParkServiceCapacityneeded:- Volunteers- Protocols
Engagevillagecouncilstohelpprotectandenforcelaws
High(withinvillage
boundariesthereishighenforcement
andcompliance)
High Near Where:VillagesHow:- Targetvillagers–therewillbehighercomplianceifvillagerscanbeenforcers.
- Communicationtool:demonstratewhyprotectionisimportantandwhatwillhappenwithoutprotection
Collaboration:VillagecouncilsCapacityneeded:Funding