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American Samoa: Regulations and Enforcement

The American Samoa Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) contains the fishery management regimes for bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral and coral reef ecosystem fisheries in the US exclusive economic zone waters (EEZ), i.e., 3 to 200 miles from shore. Federal regulations for these fisheries are enforced by the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Pacific Islands Division, the US Coast Guard’s District Fourteen and the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), through a cooperative enforcement agreement with NMFS OLE. Management measures for pelagic fisheries in the US EEZ are found in the Pacific Pelagics FEP.

“For information on the Territory of American Samoa’s fishing regulations (0 to 3 miles offshore), click here. Territory of American Samoa fishing regulations are enforced by DMWR conservation officers.

“For management measures pertaining to the recently proclaimed Rose Atoll National Marine Monument, click here.

Summary of Federal Bottomfish Regulations [top]

• Ban on use of bottom trawls and bottom set gillnets

• Ban on possession or use of any poisons, explosives or intoxicating substances to harvest bottomfish or seamount groundfish

For a list of federally managed bottomfish click here.

Summary of Federal Crustaceans Regulations [top]

• Federal permit and logbook reporting

• Notification before port landing and before offloading

• Observer coverage when requested by National Marine Fisheries Service

For a list of federally managed crustaceans click here.

Summary of Federal Precious Corals Regulations [top]

• Federal permit and logbook reporting

• Use of only selective gear that can discriminate or differentiate between type, size, quality or characteristics of living or dead corals

• Quota of 1,000 kg for all species combined (except black coral)

• Minimum height 10 inches for live pink coral

• Minimum stem diameter 1 inch or minimum height 48 inches for live black coral

• Moratorium on gold coral 2008 to 2013

For a list of federally managed precious coral click here.

Summary of Federal Coral Reef Ecosystem Regulations [top]

• Special permit, reporting and pre-landing notification for any directed fishery on potentially harvested coral reef taxa

• Allowable gear types include hand-harvest, spear, slurp gun, hand/dip net, hoop net for Kona crab, throw net, barrier net, surround/purse net that is attended at all times, hook-and-line, crab and fish traps with vessel ID number affixed or remote operating vehicle/submersible.

• Special permit, reporting and pre-landing notification requirements apply for the use of other gear types to harvest coral reef ecosystem taxa

• Ban on possession and use of poisons, explosives or intoxicating substances to take coral reef ecosystem managed species

• Ban on harvest of live rock and living corals except for indigenous people for traditional uses and aquaculture operations for seed stock under special permit, reporting and pre-landing notification requirements

• No-take MPA landward of 50 fathom curve around Rose Atoll

For a list of federally managed bottomfish click here.

American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species (top)
Scientific Name	English Common Name	Samoan Name
Aphareus rutilans	red snapper/silvermouth	palu-gutusiliva
Aprion virescens	gray snapper/jobfish	asoama
Caranx ignobilis	Giant trevally/jack	sapoanae
Caranx lugubris	Black trevally/jack	tafauli
Epinephelus fasciatus	blacktip grouper	fausi
Variola louti	lunartail grouper	papa, velo
Etelis carbunculus	red snapper	palu malau
Etelis coruscans	red snapper	palu-loa
Lethrinus amboinensis	ambon emperor	filoa-gutumumu
Lethrinu rubrioperculatus	redgill emperor	filoa-paomumu
Lutjanus kasmira	blueline snapper	savane
Pristipomoides auricilla	yellowtail snapper	palu-i’usama
Pristipomoides filamentosus	pink snapper	palu-‘ena’ena
Pristipomoides flavipinnis	yelloweye snapper	palu-sina
Pristipomoides seiboldii	pink snapper	palu
Pristipomoides zonatus	Snapper	palu-ula, palu-sega
Seriola dumerili	Amberjack	Malauli

American Samoa Crustacean Management Unit Spcies (top)
Scientific Name	English Common Name	Samoan Name
Panulirus marginatus	spiny lobster	ula
Panulirus penicillatus	spiny lobster	ula-sami
Family Scyllaridae	slipper lobster	papata
Ranina ranina	kona crab	pa’a

American Samoa Precious Coral Management Unit Species (top)
Scientific Name	English Common Name	Samoan Name
Corallium secundum	pink coral (also known as red coral)	amu piniki-mumu
Corallium regale	pink coral (also known as red coral)	amu piniki-mumu
Corallium laauense	pink coral (also known as red coral)	amu piniki-mumu
Gerardia spp.	gold coral	amu auro
Narella spp.	gold coral	amu auro
Calyptrophora spp.	gold coral	amu auro
Lepidisis olapa	bamboo coral	amu ofe
Acanella spp.	bamboo coral	amu ofe
Antipathes dichotoma	black coral	amu uliuli
Antipathes grandis	black coral	amu uliuli
Antipathes ulex	black coral	amu uliuli

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American Samoa Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Unit Species (Currently Harvested Coral Reef Taxa) (top)
Family Name	Scientific Name	English Common Name	Samoan Name
Acanthuridae (Surgeonfishes)	Acanthurus olivaceus	orange-spot surgeonfish	afinamea
	Acanthurus xanthopterus	yellowfin surgeonfish	**
	Acanthurus triostegus	convict tang	aanini
	Acanthurus dussumieri	eye-striped surgeonfish	**
	Acanthurus nigroris	blue-lined surgeon	ponepone, gaitolama
	Acanthurus lineatus	blue-banded surgeonfish	alogo
	Acanthurus nigricauda	blackstreak surgeonfish	pone-i’usama
	Acanthurus nigricans	whitecheek surgeonfish	laulama,
	Acanthurus guttatus	white-spotted surgeonfish	maogo
	Acanthurus blochii	ringtail surgeonfish	**
	Acanthurus nigrofuscus	brown surgeonfish	ponepone
	Acanthurus mata	elongate surgeonfish	**
	Acanthurus pyroferus	mimic surgeonfish	**
	Ctenochaetus strigosus	yellow-eyed surgeonfish	pone
	Ctenochaetus striatus	striped bristletooth	pone, pala’ia, logoulia
	Ctenochaetus binotatus	twospot bristletooth	**
	Naso unicornus	bluespine unicornfish	ume-isu
	Naso lituratus	orangespine unicornfish	ili’ilia, umelei
	Naso hexacanthus	black tongue unicornfish	**
	Naso vlamingii	bignose unicornfish	ume-masimasi
	Naso annulatus	whitemargin unicornfish	**
	Naso brevirostris	spotted unicornfish	ume-ulutao
	Naso thynnoides	barred unincornfish	**
Balistidae (Triggerfishes)	Balistoides viridescens	titan triggerfish	sumu, sumu-laulau
	Balistapus undulatus	orangstriped triggerfish	**
	Melichthys vidua	pinktail triggerfish	sumu-‘apa’apasina, sumu-si’umumu
	Melichthys niger	black triggerfish	sumu-uli
	Pseudobalistes fuscus	blue Triggerfish	sumu-laulau
	Rhinecanthus aculeatus	picassofish	sumu-uo’uo, sumu-aloalo
	Sufflamen fraenatum	bridled triggerfish	sumu-gase’ele’ele
	Selar crumenophthalmus	bigeye scad	atule
	Decapterus macarellus	mackerel scad	atuleau, namuauli
Carcharhinidae (Sharks)	Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos	grey reef shark	malie-aloalo
	Carcharhinus albimarginatus	silvertip shark	aso
	Carcharhinus galapagensis	galapagos shark	malie
	Carcharhinus melanopterus	blacktip reef shark	apeape, malie-alamata
	Triaenodon obesus	whitetip reef shark	malu
Holocentridae (Soldierfish/Squir-relfish Holocentridae (Soldierfish/ Squirrelfish)	Myripristis berndti	bigscale soldierfish	malau-ugatele, malau-va’ava’a
	Myripristis adusta	bronze soldierfish	malau-tui
	Myripristis murdjan	blotcheye soldierfish	**
	Myripristis amaena	brick soldierfish	**
	Myripristis pralinia	scarlet soldierfish	malau-mamo, malau-va’ava’a.
	Myripristis violacea	violet soldierfish	malau-tuauli
	Myripristis vittata	whitetip soldierfish	**
	Myripristis chryseres	yellowfin soldierfish	**
	Myripristis kuntee	pearly soldierfish	malau-pu’u
	Myripristis hexagona	double tooth squirrelfish	**
	Sargocentron melanospilos	blackspot squirrelfish	**
	Sargocentron microstoma	file-lined squirrelfish	malau-tianiu
	Sargocentron tiereoides	pink squirrelfish	**
	Sargocentron diadema	crown squirrelfish	malau-tui, malau-talapu’u, malau-tusitusi, malau-pauli.
	Sargocentron punctatissimum	peppered squirrelfish	**
	Sargocentron tiere	blue-lined squirrelfish	**
	Sargocentron spiniferum	Saber or Long jaw squirrelfish	tamalu, mu-malau, malau-toa
	Neoniphon spp.	spotfin squirrelfish	**
Kuhliidae (Flagtails)	Kuhlia mugil	barred flag-tail	safole, inato
Kuhliidae (Flagtails)	Kyphosus biggibus	rudderfish	nanue
Kyphosidae (Rudderfish)	Kyphosus cinerascens	rudderfish	nanue, mata-mutu, mutumutu.
Kyphosidae (Rudderfish)	Kyphosus vaigienses	rudderfish	nanue
Labridae (Wrasses)	Cheilinus undulatus	napoleon wrasse	lalafi, tagafa. malakea
	Cheilinus trilobatus	triple-tail wrasse	lalafi-matamumu
	Cheilinus chlorourus	floral wrasse	lalafi-matapua’a
	Cheilinus fasciatus	harlequin tuskfish	lalafi-pulepule
	Oxycheilinus diagrammus	bandcheek wrasse	sugale
	Oxycheilinus arenatus	arenatus wrasse	sugale
	Xyrichtys aneitensis	whitepatch wrasse	sugale-tatanu
	Cheilio inermis	cigar wrasse	sugale-mo’o
	Hemigymnus melapterus	blackeye thicklip	sugale-laugutu, sugale-uli, sugale-aloa, sugale-lupe.
	Hemigymnus fasciatus	barred thicklip	sugale-gutumafia
	Halichoeres trimaculatus	three-spot wrasse	lape, sugale-pagota
	Halichoeres hortulanus	checkerboard wrasse	sugale-a’au, sugale-pagota, ifigi
	Halichoeres margaritaceus	weedy surge wrasse	sugale-uluvela
	Thalassoma purpureum	surge wrasse	uloulo-gatala, patagaloa
	Thalassoma quinquevittatum	red ribbon wrasse	lape-moana
	Thalassoma lutescens	sunset wrasse	sugale-samasama
	Novaculichthys taeniourus	rockmover wrasse	sugale-la’o, sugale-taili, sugale-gasufi.
Mullidae (Goatfishes)	Mulloidichthys spp.	yellow goatfish	i’asina, vete, afulu
	Mulloidichthys vanicolensis	yellowfin goatfish	vete
	Mulloidichthys flaviolineatus	yellowstripe goatfish	afolu, afulu
	Parupeneus spp	banded goatfish	afoul, afulu
	Parupeneus barberinus	dash-dot goatfish	tusia, tulausaena, ta’uleia
	Parupeneus bifasciatus	doublebar goatfish	matulau-moana
	Parupeneus heptacanthus	redspot goatfish	moana-ula
	Parupeneus cyclostomas	yellowsaddle goatfish	i’asina, vete, afulu, moana
	Parupeneus pleurostigma	side-spot goatfish	matulau-ilamutu
	Parupeneus multifaciatus	multi-barred goatfish	i’asina, vete, afulu
Mugilidae (Mullets)	Crenimugil crenilabis	fringelip mullet	anae, aua. Fuafua
Mugilidae (Mullets)	Neomyxus leuciscus	false mullet	moi, poi
Muraenidae (Moray eels)	Gymnothorax flavimarginatus	yellowmargin moray eel	pusi
	Gymnothorax javanicus	giant moray eel	maoa’e
	Gymnothorax undulatus	undulated moray eel	pusi-pulepule
Octopodidae (Octopus)	Octopus cyanea	octopus	fe’e
Octopodidae (Octopus)	Octopus ornatus	octopus	fe’e
Polynemidae	Polydactylus sexfilis	threadfin	umiumia, i’ausi
Pricanthidae (Bigeye)	Heteropriacanthus cruentatus	glasseye	matapula
Pricanthidae (Bigeye)	Priacanthus hamrur	bigeye	matapula
Scaridae (Parrotfishes)	Calotomus carolinus	stareye parrotfish	fuga
	Scarus spp.	parrotfish	fuga, galo-uluto’I, fuga-valea, laea-mamanu
	Hipposcarus longiceps	pacific longnose parrotfish	ulapokea, laea-ulapokea
Scombridae	Gymnosarda unicolor	dogtooth tuna	tagi
Siganidae (Rabbitfish)	Siganus aregenteus	forktail rabbitfish	loloa, lo
Sphyraenidae (Barracuda)	Sphyraena helleri	heller’s barracuda	sapatu
Sphyraenidae (Barracuda)	Sphyraena barracuda	great Barracuda	saosao
Turbinidae (green snails)	Turbo spp.	green snails	alili

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American Samoa Coral Reef Ecosytem Management Unit Species (Potentially Harvested Coral Reef Taxa) (top)
Scientific Name	English Common Name	Samoan Name
Labridae	Wrasses (those species not listed as CHCRT)	sugale, sugale-vaolo, sugale-a’a, lalafi, lape-a’au, la’ofia
Carcharhinidae Sphyrnidae	sharks (those species not listed as CHCRT)	malie, apoapo, moemoeao
Dasyatididae Myliobatidae	rays and skates	fai
Ephippidae	batfishes	pe’ape’a
Haemulidae	sweetlips	mutumutu, misimisi, ava’ava-moana
Echeneidae	remoras	talitaliuli
Malacanthidae	tilefishes	mo’o, mo’otai
Pseudochromidae	dottybacks	tiva
Plesiopidae	prettyfins	aneanea, tafuti
Caracanthidae	coral crouchers	tapua
Anomalopidae	flashlightfishes	##
Serrandiae	groupers (those species not listed as CHCRT or BMUS)	gatala, ataata, vaolo, gatala-uli, gatala-sega, gatala-aleva, ateate, apoua, susami, gatala-sina, gatala-mumu.
Carangidae	jacks and scads (those species not listed as CHCRT or BMUS)	lupo, lupota, mamalusi, ulua, sapoanae, taupapa, nato, filu, atuleau, malauli-apamoana, malauli-sinasama, malauli-matalapo’a, lai
Holocentridae	soldierfishes and squirrelfishes (those species not listed as CHCRT)	malau
Mullidae	goatfishes (those species not listed as CHCRT)	i’asina, vete, afulu, afoul, ulula’oa
Acanthuridae	surgeonfishes (those species not listed as CHCRT)	pone, palagi
Clupeidae	herrings	pelupelu, nefu
Engraulidae	anchovies	nefu, file
Gobiidae	gobies	mano’o, mano’o-popo, mano’o-fugafuga, mano’o-apofusami, mano’o-a’au.
Lutjanidae	snappers (those species not listed as CHCRT or BMUS)	mu, mu-taiva, tamala, malai, feloitega, mu-mafalaugutu, savane-ulusama, matala’oa.
Balistidae	trigger fishes (those species not listed as CHCRT)	sumu, sumu-papa, sumu-taulau.
Siganidae	rabbitfishes (those species not listed as CHCRT)	lo
Kyphosidae	rudderfishes (those species not listed as CHCRT)	nanue, matamutu, mutumutu
Caesionidae	fusiliers	ulisega, atule-toto
Lethrinidae	emperors (those species not listed as CHCRT or BMUS)	filoa, mata’ele’ele, ulamalosi
Muraenidae Chlopsidae Congridae Moringuidae Ophichthidae	eels (those species not listed as CHCRT)	pusi, maoa’e, atapanoa, u’aulu, apeape, fafa, gatamea, pusi-solasulu.
Apogonidae	cardinalfishes	fo, fo-tusiloloa, fo-si’umu, fo-loloa, fo-tala, fo-manifi, fo-aialo, fo-tuauli.
Zanclidae spp.	moorish idols	pe’ape’a, laulaufau
Chaetodontidae	butterfly fishes	tifitifi, si’u, i’usamasama, tifitifi-segaula, laulafau-laumea, alosina.
Pomacanthidae	angelfishes	tu’u’u, tu’u’u-sama, tu’u’u-lega, tu’u’u-ulavapua, tu’u’u-matamalu, tu’u’u-alomu, tu’u’u-uluvela, tu’u’u-atugauli, tu’u’u-tusiuli, tu’u’u-manini.
Pomacentridae	damselfishes	tu’u’u, mutu, mamo, tu’u’u-lumane.
Scorpaenidae	scorpionfishes	i’atala, la’otele, nofu
Blenniidae	blennies	mano’o, mano’o-mo’o, mano’o-palea, mano’o-la’o.
Sphyraenidae spp	barracudas (those species not listed as CHCRT)	sapatu
Cirrhitidae	hawkfishes (those species not listed as CHCRT)	la’o, ulutu’i, lausiva
Antennariidae	frogfishes	la’otale, nofu
Syngnathidae	pipefishes and seahorses	##
Pinguipedidae	sandperches	ta’oto
Gymnosarda unicolor	dog tooth tuna	tagi
Aulostomus chinensis	trumpetfish	taoto-ena, taoto-sama, ‘au’aulauti, taotito
Fistularia commersoni	cornetfish	taotao, taoto-ama
Tetradontidae	puffer fishes and porcupine fishes	sue, sue-vaolo, sue-va’a, sue-lega, sue-mu, sue-uli, sue-lape, sue-afa, sue-sugale.
Bothidae Soleidae	flounders and soles	ali
Ostraciidae	trunkfishes	moamoa
Echinoderms	sea cucumbers and sea urchins	fugafuga, tuitui, sava’e
Heliopora	blue corals	amu
Tubipora	organpipe corals	amu
Azooxanthellates	ahermatypic corals	**
Fungiidae	mushroom corals	amu
	small and large coral polyps	amu
Millepora	fire corals	amu
	soft corals and gorgonians	amu
Actinaria	Anemones	lumane, matalelei
Zoanthinaria	soft zoanthid corals	**
Mollusca	(those species not listed as CHCRT)	##
Gastropoda	sea snails	sisi-sami
Trochus spp.		aliao, alili
Opistobranches	sea slugs	sea
Pinctada margaritifera	black lipped pearl oyster	##
Tridacnidae	giant clam	faisua
Other Bivalves	other Clams	pipi, asi, fatuaua, tio, pae, fole
Crustaceans	lobsters, shrimps/mantis shrimps, true crabs and hermit crabs (those species not listed as Crustacean MUS)	ula, pa’a, kuku, papata
Tunicates	sea squirts	##
Porifera	Sponges	##
Stylasteridae	lace corals	amu
Solanderidae	Hydroid corals	amu
Annelids	segmented worms (those species not listed as CHCRT)	##
Algae	seaweed	limu
Live rock		##
All other coral reef ecosystem management unit species that are marine plants, invertebrates, and fishes which spend the majority of their non-pelagic (post settlement) life history stages within waters less than or equal to 50 fathoms in total depth.

American Samoa: Regulations and Enforcement

Summary of Federal Bottomfish Regulations [top]

Summary of Federal Crustaceans Regulations [top]

Summary of Federal Precious Corals Regulations [top]

Summary of Federal Coral Reef Ecosystem Regulations [top]

American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species (top)

American Samoa Crustacean Management Unit Spcies (top)

American Samoa Precious Coral Management Unit Species (top)

American Samoa Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Unit Species

American Samoa Coral Reef Ecosytem Management Unit Species