47th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force gets down to business in Virgin Islands

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 47th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Business Meeting convened on October 26, 2023, at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman's Reef on St. Thomas, VI where Pacific Territories White House Director for Intergovernmental Affairs Gretchen Sierra-Zorita announced her commitment to supporting the task force members, especially Island territories.

“Listening to the all islands committee report on their priorities for natural resources, restoration initiatives, capacity building, like the coral fellowship, resilience, base management, fisheries management, I renewed my sense of commitment and strengthened my resolve to bring this issues back to the White House and raise awareness of these ongoing priorities here, and now in the territories,” she told the gathering.

Special remarks from Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga and Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands were briefed in a press release from the Governor’s Office.

Governor Bryan encouraged "getting young advocates into the water to preserve marine systems.” The same thoughts resonated with Governor Lemanu, as he introduced one by one the DMWR staff, highlighting the presence of predominantly young and female employees attending the meeting, and emphasizing the importance of involving young people and women. He acknowledges all stakeholders “as caretakers of one of our planet's most precious natural resources, coral reefs.”

The Governor also pointed out, “American Samoa is blessed to be custodians of some of the world's most resilient reefs. From Fagatele Bay to the super corals in Ofu and the inspiring Giant corals in Ta'u further out from Tutuila, our main island, we have the pristine reefs of Rose Atoll and Swains Island.” Resilient reefs mean these natural infrastructures are being taken care of and are “essential to our food, culture, tourism, and coastal protection.”

He reminded stakeholders that “in a world full of challenges, partnerships are our strongest tool. We invite you all to come to American Samoa to see first-hand the coral reefs that have protected our islands for generations,” inviting stakeholders to visit American Samoa to see our well-maintained and nurtured coral reef ecosystem that has protected our coast, provided jobs for our local communities, offered recreational activities, and more.

Other prominent speakers such as Chair Brenda Mallory, White House Council on Environmental Policy spoke on the Biden-Haris Administrative Ocean Policy Priorities. Mallory said, “From day one, President Biden has recognized that climate change represents a profound threat on both the national and global level that requires urgent action at all levels of government and society...The President released the ocean climate action plan earlier this year, the plan lays out our administration's vision for an ocean that is not just a victim of climate change, but also part of the solution to our climate crisis.”

The meeting was well attended by representatives from thirteen federal agencies, seven U.S. states, and territories, as well as three Freely Associated States and commonwealths. Welcome and introductory remarks were delivered by the task force co-chairs Carmen G. Cantor of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Nicole R. LeBeouf of the U.S. Department of Commerce.