American Samoa’s environmental nonprofit group, Finafinau, is rallying the community against deep-sea mining with a week of events featuring national experts.
The group, led by Dr. Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, 2021 Territorial Teacher of the Year and ocean resilience advocate—distributed a blue flyer urging residents to “Join the Movement: Protect Our Pacific Waters.” The sessions run January 20–26, 2026, focusing on dialogue, coordination, and planning to safeguard local oceans.
The experts are from Greenpeace USA, Maui Nui Makai Network, Pacific Islands Heritage Coalition and Salt Horizon.
Though the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s public comment period ended in August 2025 (with most submissions opposing leasing) and the process sits in an “Area Identification” phase, no final decisions yet—the fight continues. Finafinau stresses momentum must be sustained despite the standstill.
Highlights include community discussions on ocean protection, cultural knowledge exchanges, strategy sessions for future initiatives, and pathways to stronger environmental safeguards. Events aim to deepen understanding and amplify local voices on issues tied to marine ecosystems, tuna fisheries, and cultural livelihoods.
Suluai-Mahuka frames the issue as one of empowerment and the ocean’s sacred place in Samoan life. Finafinau is pushing for decisions prioritizing long-term Pacific health over mineral extraction risks like sediment plumes and habitat loss.
