Last month the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) reinstalled a new wave buoy in the waters off Aunu’u with the support of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) and the National Park Service of American Samoa.
The wave buoy, located more than three miles to the east off Aunu’u, provides accurate information on wave height, direction, period, and sea surface temperature every 30 minutes.
Local agency officials, alia fishermen, commercial operators, ocean users, as well as community members rely on the wave buoy data to make safe decisions.
It also provided important wave information to assess ocean conditions for this year’s fautasi races.
Director of DMWR, Va’amua Henry Sesepasara, explains, “The wave buoy is crucial to keep our community safe as it gives us insights about the current ocean conditions 24/7.
“Large waves and rough seas can lead to life-threatening situations. We need to avoid possible drownings, and the PacIOOS wave buoy is an invaluable asset to increase safety.”
At the end of 2016, the PacIOOS wave buoy broke free from its mooring.
There was evidence that the buoy was intentionally tampered with.
Vaamua says, “We are asking all boaters to carefully navigate around the buoy, refrain from tying to the equipment, and avoid fishing near the buoy to minimize entanglement in the mooring line.
“DMWR will monitor the wave buoy to ensure smooth operations in the long-term.”
The wave buoy is an important ocean observing instrument for American Samoa.
NOAA’s National Weather Service Office in Pago Pago uses the wave buoy data to issue warnings, watches, advisories, and forecasts.
Strong storms can generate dangerous waves that might impact the shoreline and villages located near the water. The wave buoy allows agency officials to inform the community of hazardous conditions, both on land and in the water.
The Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) owns and operates the buoy off Aunu’u and works in close collaboration with local and federal agencies to maintain the asset.
The Aunu’u wave buoy is the only buoy in Samoa and belongs to PacIOOS’ network of 14 real-time wave buoys across the Pacific.
