374
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
subsistence in 1997, while domestic markets probably
add a further 75-80 tons of fish, crustaceans and other
invertebrates (1998-99 figures). There has been a noted
reduction in biomass and size of fish in shallower and
more heavily fished areas. There are two small aquarium
trade exporters, while there have also been several
attempts at reef restocking with giant clams and green
snails. There is also some giant clam aquaculture. As the
country develops there are increasmg problems of
pollution from sewage and solid waste. Poor landuse
practices combined with uncontrolled use of agricultural
chemicals are creating high loads of nutrients, toxic
chemicals and sediments, placing the reefs under
increasing levels of stress. Tourism, the fastest growing
sector of the economy, is also causing some problems,
particularly in the development of hotel facilities.
Samoa has only one major marine protected area,
although the Tafua Rainforest Reserve contains some
coastal areas, and there are plans to develop others. There
are also increasing efforts to involve village participants
in conservation awareness. Traditional marine tenure is
recognized, maintaining traditional ownership of adjacent
lagoon and reef fishery resources by the villages.
American Samoa
The eastern portion of the Samoa Archipelago consists of
five high volcanic islands and. in the east, Rose Atoll. It
is an unincorporated territory of the USA. and its administration also covers Swains Atoll, a remote atoll which lies
between the main islands and those of Tokelau to the north.
The high islands are surrounded by fringing reefs, with
reef flats typically 50-500 meters wide terminating in a
reef slope which drops sharply for 3-6 meters and then
descends gradually down to a depth of about 40 meters.
Biodiversity is similar to Samoas, with 890 species
of reef fish recorded around the entire archipelago. Some
200 coral species have been recorded. The reefs were
severely impacted by the 1990 and 1991 cyclones, having
previously suffered a damaging crown-of-thorns outbreak
(1978), but they are reported to have made a considerable
recovery from these events.
There are small areas of mangrove on Tutuila and
Aunu'u. The reef rim of Rose Atoll is dominated by
coralline algae. It has an important green turtle nesting
colony, and having been cleared of rats is also a thriving
seabird colony. Swains Atoll lies at sea level, but there is
a circular island on the reef flat completely enclosing the
Left: A white-belly damsel Amblyglyphldodon leucogaster sheltering in a branching Acropora. Right: Savai i Island and
reefs with sunlight highlighting ocean surface features lSTS093-7U-i9, 19991.
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
subsistence in 1997, while domestic markets probably
add a further 75-80 tons of fish, crustaceans and other
invertebrates (1998-99 figures). There has been a noted
reduction in biomass and size of fish in shallower and
more heavily fished areas. There are two small aquarium
trade exporters, while there have also been several
attempts at reef restocking with giant clams and green
snails. There is also some giant clam aquaculture. As the
country develops there are increasmg problems of
pollution from sewage and solid waste. Poor landuse
practices combined with uncontrolled use of agricultural
chemicals are creating high loads of nutrients, toxic
chemicals and sediments, placing the reefs under
increasing levels of stress. Tourism, the fastest growing
sector of the economy, is also causing some problems,
particularly in the development of hotel facilities.
Samoa has only one major marine protected area,
although the Tafua Rainforest Reserve contains some
coastal areas, and there are plans to develop others. There
are also increasing efforts to involve village participants
in conservation awareness. Traditional marine tenure is
recognized, maintaining traditional ownership of adjacent
lagoon and reef fishery resources by the villages.
American Samoa
The eastern portion of the Samoa Archipelago consists of
five high volcanic islands and. in the east, Rose Atoll. It
is an unincorporated territory of the USA. and its administration also covers Swains Atoll, a remote atoll which lies
between the main islands and those of Tokelau to the north.
The high islands are surrounded by fringing reefs, with
reef flats typically 50-500 meters wide terminating in a
reef slope which drops sharply for 3-6 meters and then
descends gradually down to a depth of about 40 meters.
Biodiversity is similar to Samoas, with 890 species
of reef fish recorded around the entire archipelago. Some
200 coral species have been recorded. The reefs were
severely impacted by the 1990 and 1991 cyclones, having
previously suffered a damaging crown-of-thorns outbreak
(1978), but they are reported to have made a considerable
recovery from these events.
There are small areas of mangrove on Tutuila and
Aunu'u. The reef rim of Rose Atoll is dominated by
coralline algae. It has an important green turtle nesting
colony, and having been cleared of rats is also a thriving
seabird colony. Swains Atoll lies at sea level, but there is
a circular island on the reef flat completely enclosing the
Left: A white-belly damsel Amblyglyphldodon leucogaster sheltering in a branching Acropora. Right: Savai i Island and
reefs with sunlight highlighting ocean surface features lSTS093-7U-i9, 19991.