About American Samoa

American Samoa is an unincorporated United States Territory located approximately 4,200 kilometers south of Hawai'i. It is the southernmost of all U.S. possessions and is the only U.S. jurisdiction in the South Pacific. American Samoa is comprised of seven islands (five volcanic islands and two coral atolls) and has a combined land area of approximately 125 square kilometers. The main island of Tutuila houses over 97% of the Territory's population and is the center of government and business.

The three islands of Ofu, Olosega and Ta'u , collectively referred to as the Manu'a Islands, are 107 kilometers east of Tutuila. Two outer islands, Rose Atoll and Swain's Island, are approximately 260 kilometers and 325 kilometers from Tutuila respectively. Both are quite small, and Rose Atoll is currently protected as a National Wildlife Refuge.Swain's Island is inhabited by a population of about 10 people.

The islands range in size from the populated high island of Tutuila (142 square kilometers) to the uninhabited and remote Rose Atoll (4 square kilometers). The total area of coral reefs (to 100 meter depth) in the territory is 296 square kilometers. Due to the steepness of the main islands, shallow water habitats around the islands are limited and consist primarily of fringing coral reefs (85% of total coral reef area) with a few offshore banks (12%) and two atolls (3%). The fringing reefs have narrow reef flats (50-500 meters) and depths of 1000 meters are reached within 2-8 kilometers from shore.

American Samoa retains some of the most traditional lifestyles found anywhere in the United States. In the outer villages, where commuting to the commercial and government centers is not a viable option, villagers still rely heavily upon coral reefs for their livelihoods. While the Territory has undergone immense population and economic changes within the past several decades, families can still be seen reef-gleaning, traditional fishing boats (alias) are still in use, and cultural methods of resource protection are still successfully utilized in some areas, including the Department of Marine and Wildlife's Community based Fisheries Management Program.

The government of American Samoa is based on a bi-cameral legislature, with a popularly elected governorship, although territorial agencies maintain close links with their federal counterparts. Political leadership in American Samoa fully recognizes the value of coral reef ecosystems to the fa'asamoa (Samoan way of life) and support CRAG's efforts to enhance and successfully manage our coastal and marine resources.