There is a need to work with village communities to implement village mpas to help restore and maintain the nearshore fishery stocks

The American Samoa Government, through its Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), was awarded a $164,849 Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605). This grant, effective October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, will support the implementation of village Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to help restore and maintain nearshore fishery stocks in American Samoa. The grant funding aims to enhance the availability of critical marine resources for village communities that heavily depend on these nearshore fisheries as a source of protein and for traditional cultural functions. The project is consistent with DMWR's mandate to preserve, protect, and manage the territory's marine and wildlife resources.

Villages heavily depend on nearshore resources as a source of protein on a daily basis and a way to provide food for provide for traditional cultural functions. Village mpas will enhance the availability of the resources to be used and allow fish populations to recover. Over exploitation destructive fishing methods poor land management and sedimentation have seriously affected the availability of marine resources for villagers in american samoa. Village communities residing adjacent to these resources are finding that these resources are becoming scarce. The implementation of this project is consistent with the local mandate of the american samoa department of marine and wild resources to preserve protect perpetuate and manage the marine and wildlife resources within the territory.