Amata Attends Coral Reef Task Force Meeting

Washington D.C. -- Congresswoman Aumua Amata today, attended the annual Coral Reef Task Force's annual meeting in Washington to join in the discussion on the current health of our coral reefs and the future agenda for ensuring their preservation.

"As someone who can actually see the coral reefs from the front of my home in Pago Pago, American Samoa, I'm especially delighted to be here today. As you know, coral reefs are vitally important to the fragile ecosystems of our oceans. In American Samoa, we have a direct link to the reefs and rely upon their good health for the continued benefit of our people. My family loves to eat and catch, fish and lobster right off the reef, and once a year we go out fishing for the Samoan Palolo worm, a fish that lives inside the coral and comes out only once a year to spawn," said Amata.

The meeting, which spanned the day, covered the main goals of the task force and their agenda for the upcoming year, including addressing the Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreak in American Samoa.

"Like all Samoan's, my experiences and connections to the reef are a part of who I am, and I appreciate the good work the task force is doing to ensure that these dynamic ecosystems continue to thrive for future generations," concluded Amata.