Search Results for keywords:"American Samoa"

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced a change in the coordination of disaster response for the major disaster declaration in American Samoa. Tammy L. Littrell is appointed as the new Federal Coordinating Officer, replacing Robert J. Fenton. This adjustment is part of FEMA's ongoing management efforts following coordinated procedures outlined in the disaster declaration dated April 17, 2020. The notice includes Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers for tracking and allocating funds associated with disaster management programs.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council has announced its 155th series of public meetings, which will address fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. These meetings will be held from March 11 to March 18, 2025, covering topics such as biological catch limits, electronic monitoring updates, endangered species status, and climate impacts on fisheries. The sessions, accessible both in person and via Webex, are organized to include public comment periods and discussions, and they will take place in locations in Hawaii and American Samoa. The meetings aim to discuss fishery ecosystem plans and to strategize for future fishery management activities.

The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the final evaluation findings for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve and six coastal management programs. These programs, located in American Samoa, Hawaii, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, and Oregon, are managed by the states and territory under the Coastal Zone Management Act. NOAA found that both the reserve and the state and territory programs are in compliance with federally approved coastal zone management objectives and meeting the terms of their financial assistance. The findings are available online, and NOAA has addressed public comments received during the evaluation process.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has set a 2021 limit of 2,000 metric tons of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. Pacific territory, including American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Each territory can allocate up to 1,500 metric tons to U.S. fishing vessels, but the total allocation across all territories cannot exceed 3,000 metric tons. NMFS will monitor the catches and may impose restrictions if these limits are expected to be reached, to ensure long-term sustainability of these fishery resources. Additionally, NMFS has addressed public comments concerning environmental and cultural impacts, ensuring comprehensive consideration of the potential effects on marine ecosystems and populations.