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Management Plan Review

Fagatele Bay NMS began its first management plan review (MPR) in 2008. Over the next few years, the sanctuary will completely overhaul and renew its management priorities, goals and objectives. An estimated timeline for the MPR & possible additional site designation process is available for download (pdf, 211kb). Throughout the management plan review process, the public will be invited to evaluate site's progress since it was designated in 1986, and to recommend new directions for the sanctuary. These new directions could include reviewing and revising existing boundaries and regulations, and possibly designating additional sanctuary sites. In the end, we will have a stronger program that better serves the American public and the people of American Samoa.

Public Comments for the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review and Possible Designation of Additional Sanctuary Sites

The Public Comment Period for the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review and Possible Designation of Additional Sanctuary Sites concluded on March 26, 2009. During the eight-week public comment period comments could be submitted in four ways:

1) In person at on of three public scoping meetings
2) Via e-mail at: fagatelebay@noaa.gov
3) In writing to:
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Management Plan Review)
P.O. Box 4318
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
4) Via fax: (808) 397-2662

Every comment that was provided, either during the three public scoping meetings or otherwise submitted, is available for download (pdf, 380kb). These comments are in their 'raw' form and have been posted exactly as they were submitted.

Summary Scoping Document

A document summarizing the scoping comments received during the public scoping period (February 9 to March 26, 2009) is available for download (pdf, 124kb). It organizes the comments into twelve broad categories or "issue areas" including some overarching comments, with background information provided for each issue area. The Scoping Summary document was created to assist staff of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Fagatele National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS), the FBNMS Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC), and the public in understanding and interpreting the comments received during the scoping phase of the FBNMS Management Plan Review and possible Site Expansion/Additional Site Designation process (MPR). This document will help to inform SAC meetings and MPR Working Group meetings, which are open to the public to ensure an open and transparent MPR process.

Resources

For more information about Fagatele Bay and the ongoing Management Plan Review, you can download the following resources:

• Management Plan Review Fact sheet (English). (pdf, 116 KB)
• Management Plan Review Fact sheet (Samoan). (pdf, 164 KB)
• Federal Register notice for the Fagatele Bay management plan (pdf, 52kb)
• FBNMS frequently asked questions (FAQs) in English, (pdf, 36 KB)
• FBNMS frequently asked questions (FAQs) in Samoan (pdf, 64 KB)
• The 2002 State of the Sanctuary Report reviewing the first 16 years' accomplishments (pdf, 1.1 MB)
• The 2002-2008 update lists highlights after 2002 (pdf, 168 KB).
• The Sanctuary's Condition Report documents and evaluates the natural history of the site (pdf, 6.6 MB)
• Socioeconomic Survey report (pdf, 200 KB)

Check out American Samoa’s Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG). Fagatele Bay is a founding member of the group, and continues to collaborate with local resource agencies in CRAG.

More information will be added to this page as the management plan review progresses. Stay tuned!