Fatoata hosts the NOAA Ocean Acidification Teacher Workshop

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  Fatoata hosted a three-day NOAA Ocean Acidification Program Teacher Workshop from Monday, June 23, to Wednesday, June 25. Twenty teachers from all over the island gathered to learn about ocean acidification and its impact on the oceans and the species that live there. The workshop was place-based, bringing in experts who have studied the surrounding waters of American Samoa to share their findings with the educators. Teachers were provided with kits and other materials to incorporate ocean acidification in their classrooms.

According to the NOAA Ocean Acidification studies, 30% of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean. Deforestation and fossil fuel burning through car emissions are human contributions that increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Ocean acidification weakens the shells and skeletons of coral and juvenile fish, disrupting the food web of marine species.

The teacher workshop raised awareness and spurred teachers on to consider their carbon footprint and ways to reduce their contribution to ocean acidification. Educators brought a wealth of ideas that included carpooling to work, reducing the use of air conditioning in their homes and workplaces, and educating the next generation about the health and well-being of the ocean.

Part One of the NOAA OAP Teacher Workshop included a trip around the harbor with the Pago Pago Game Fishing Association (PPGFA), the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), the Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG), and the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) to collect plankton that would be analyzed back in the classroom at Matafao Elementary School. What do plankton have to do with ocean acidification, you ask? Plankton are primary producers and support nearly all marine life, from whales to the fish we eat. The health of plankton determines the entire food web, including the economic implications that ocean acidification could have on our fisheries.

The boat trip was a highlight for the educators, and analyzing the plankton back in class contributed to curiosity and learning. CRAG Invasive Species Specialist, Casidhe Mahuka, spearheaded the plankton collection and analysis with teachers. The workshop included several experts who contributed to building capacity for teachers in ocean acidification. Teachers participated in hands-on ocean acidification activities with NOAA Nancy Foster Scholar, Amanda Croteau. They learned about Rose Atoll Marine National Monument from retired United States Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Brian Peck.

NMSAS’s Research Coordinator, Val Brown, shared about one of the world's largest corals, Big Momma, located off of Ta’u, and introduced teachers to the newest educational tool from the sanctuary. Sanctuary Watch (sanctuarywatch.ioos.us/ american-samoa/overview/) is a place-based online tool that allows users to explore ecosystems for the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. She also introduced teachers to the PacIOOS buoy system online, which collects ocean data from around American Samoa. Teachers learned how to navigate the PacIOOS website and identify data that their students could use in the classroom. PacIOOS buoys collect wave, current, shoreline impacts, water characteristics (including ocean acidification), and weather. You can see real-time data collected by the PacIOOS buoy at www.pacioos.hawaii.edu/regions/amsamoa/.

Part Two of the NOAA OAP Program supports teachers during the school year 2025-2026 in incorporating what they learned about ocean acidification in their classrooms. Teachers will work with their students to create public service announcements and support ocean acidification student learning in the classroom and beyond.

BACKGROUND

Fatoata is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in American Samoa whose purpose is to advance education and sciences by reconnecting people to nature, culture, and the arts. Fatoata does this through conservation, restoration, and education. Fatoata is a portmanteau of the three Samoan words - faasao (conservation), toefuataiga (restoration), and atamai (intelligence). The founders of Fatoata, through science, love for culture, nature, and spending time in the great outdoors, recognized there was a gap in the mind-heart connection for protecting these sacred things. This includes our land and our ocean. Our goal is to connect people with the great outdoors and support them in their journey to take care of the land and the ocean here in American Samoa.