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The Puna’oaolevasa is an incredible resource.
Puna’oaolevasa, which means “spring of resources� in Samoan, is a new research vessel purchased by American Samoa’s with grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Conservation Investment. The boat will help the department conduct surveys and protect the local environment, which will in turn support the region’s fishing communities.
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the U.S. in the South Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Located within the tropical convergence zone, these volcanic islands and atolls include lush vegetation and rich biodiversity. of American Samoa is marine waters, and the health of the ocean ecosystem is critically important for economic, environmental, and cultural reasons.
Prior to purchasing the Puna’oaolevasa, the DMWR owned another boat. Domingo Ochavillo, the chief of the fisheries division for the DMWR, thought that it was time to replace the 20-year-old vessel.
“The boat was getting old, really old,� Ochavillo said. “It didn’t make sense to keep repairing it.�
Ochavillo approached Adam Miles, the chief wildlife officer for the DMWR, who also relied on the Whaler to conduct wildlife surveys. Ochavillo and Miles decided to pool their money from the Service’s Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration grants to support the purchase of a new boat.
“We do a lot of surveys on the water, even counting flying foxes in the north side of the island,� said Miles. “We have to do that survey from the water. We do humpback whale surveys every year. We have a new seabird project where we are out on the water multiple times a year, we've been trying to do more surveys in Manuʻa from the water too, so there's a lot of wildlife work to be done on the water.�
Ochavillo wanted to be able to increase the amount of time his staff spent on the water to conduct surveys of the stunning coral reefs that border the territory. Climate change and pollution pose threats to these rich marine ecosystems and the people who rely on them.
Ochavillo and Miles asked Andy Wearing, the owner of the local boat building company Industrial Gases, to construct the vessel. It took more than half a year to finish construction, and Wearing provided employment to several people on the island in the process.
“The boat was made on the island,� Ochavillo said. “When they built the boat they hired local people. It really supported the local economy.�
The boat is 32 feet long and 12 feet wide, big enough to be out at sea for long periods of time. The double hulled vessel boasts an impressive 2300 horsepower, powerful enough to travel to the remote islands of Manuʻa and Rose Atoll.
“I think the good thing about this is the boat was built for conditions here,� Ochavillo said. “The nearest boat building facilities are probably in New Zealand and Australia. What we’re doing is getting a boat that fits the conditions here by working with a builder who has years of experience fishing here and building boats here.�
The Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration grants are administered by the Service’s Office of Conservation Investment, a staff dedicated to supporting a variety of projects by providing grants and technical assistance to state and U.S. territory partners. The grants and assistance expand opportunities for states and territories to actively engage in fish and wildlife conservation.
“Some of the countries nearby don’t have this type of funding at all,� Miles said. “American Samoa is in the unique position to be able to conserve resources. It allows us to figure things out that can help in other places too.�
Conserving resources will also help support the local economy, and particularly local fisheries. The tuna fishery in American Samoa is a vital component of the territory’s economy and culture, supporting angling communities. Centered around the port of Pago Pago, the fishery primarily targets skipjack and albacore tuna, supplying the local tuna canning industry, which is one of the largest employers in the region. By protecting wildlife and habitat for recreational fishing, these grants also help the tuna fishery remain a cornerstone of American Samoa’s economy.
“Protecting wildlife and habitat also drives economic gain,� Miles said. “We’re trying to build the ecotourism industry here, and if protecting habitat provides opportunities for the local economy. It’s a win-win for everything.�
The Puna’oaolevasa is not just a boat; it’s also a bulwark for the economy in American Samoa and a benefit for conservation. The boat is a symbol of a bright future for the islands, their inhabitants, and our ability to conserve and protect the marine ecosystem.
