Amata Announces $926,328 Grant Award for Coral Reef Initiatives

Fa'asamoa

Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, was notified by Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia'aina in regards to the awarding of $926,328 in grant assistance from the Office of Insular Affairs' Coral Reef Initiative Program to a variety of projects and initiatives designed to improve the health and management of coral reefs in the American Samoa, and the other Territories.

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"I always welcome any funding that will serve to improve the health of our island's natural resources," stated Amata. "Our reefs are the backbone of our local island ecosystem and these important funds will help to make sure that they remain vibrant for future generations," continued Amata.

"These projects range from restoration of threatened coral species in the Caribbean to protecting Micronesian mangrove forests, and curating one of the largest collections of Pacific coral specimens. I trust they will help build capacity, promote healthy coastal ecosystems, and help inform management of coral reefs in the jurisdictions," said Assistant Secretary Kia'aina.

Specifically, the American Samoa Department of Commerce has been awarded $138,718 for a pilot project at Utulei Beach, a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling on Tutuila Island, to identify, and ultimately eliminate outflows of litter into the Fagaloa Tourism Priority Zone. This project complements other initiatives such as the Utelei Beach Recovery project and redevelopment of the old Rainmaker Hotel property.

"I want to thank Assistant Secretary Esther Kia'aina and the Office of Insular Affairs for their decision in granting these funds. I also want to thank those at the American Samoa Department of Commerce who helped to secure these funds for our island. It is their hard work and dedication that helps us improve the lives of our people and local environment," concluded Amata.

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Fa'alauiloa mai e Amata Vaegatupe Fesoasoani mo Porokalama o A'au

Na logoina le afioga i le Faipule o le Konekeresi o Aumua Amata e le Failautusi Lagolago o le Initeria mo Atumotu o Esther Kia'aina e fa'atatau i le $926,328 o vaegatupe fesoasoani mai le Ofisa o Mataupu tau Atumotu mo Porokalama o A'au (amu) mo poroketi/galuega (projects) ma taumafaiga eseese ua fa'atulaga e fa'aleleia atili ai le ola lelei o a'au (amu) i Amerika Samoa, ma isi Teritori.

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Sa taua e Amata, "So'o se taimi lava e maua ai se vaegatupe fesoasoani mo le fa'aolaolaina o a tatou alamanuia fa'alenatura ou te talia lelei. O o tatou a'au o le ivitu lea o alamanuia fa'anatura a atumotu ma o vaegatupe nei o le a fesoasoani tele e mautinoa le ola pea mo tupulaga fai mai."

O porokalama nei e afua mai le toe fa'afo'isia o ituaiga amu ua lamatia i le Kerepeane e o'o atu i le puipuia o togatogo i Maikolonesia, ma le fa'asaoina o se tasi o tu'ufa'atasiga aupito tele i le Pasefika o ituaiga amu eseese. Ou te talitonu o le a fesoasoani e fausia ai le tomai ma fa'alaua'itele le ola lelei o figota i le talafatai, ma fesoasoani e taulogologo le pulega o a'au i le Pasefika," o a Kia'aina lea.

O le itu lea, na tu'uina atu ai e le Matagaluega o Fefa'atauaiga a Amerika Samoa le $138,718 mo se poroketi/galuega fa'ata'ita'i i le Ta'elega iUtulei, o se nofoaga masani e tofutofu ma ta'e'ele/feausi ai i Tutuila, e saili ma ave'ese uma le taetafe e tafe i totonu o le Sone Fa'apitoa mo Tagata Tafafao Maimoa i le Fagaloa. E faaopoopo lenei fuafuaga i isi fo'i taumafaiga e pei o le poroketi o le Toefa'afo'isia o le Taelega i Utulei ma le toe atiina'e o le Faletalimalo Tuai o le Rainmaker ma fanua o lo'o tu ai.

Saunoa fa'ai'u Amata e faapea, "Out e fia fa'afetai atu foi i le Failautusi Lagolago o Esther Kia'aina ma le Ofisa o Mataupu tau Atumotu mo lenei vaegatupe fesoasoani. Ou te fia fa'afetai atu foi i le Matagaluega o Fefa'atauaiga a Amerika Samoa sa fesoasoani malosi ua tatou maua ai nei vaegatupe. Ua avea la latou galuega fita ma pogai ua maua ai le fesoasoani e fa'aleleia atili ai le soifua o nai o tatou tagata ma le si'osi'omaga."

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