American Samoa survey

OMB SUBMISSION
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
Resident Coral Reef Survey
OMB Control Number 0648-0646
**American Samoa Survey**

Survey conducted in (circle one):

Samoan

English

Introduction: Talofa. My name is __________. We are conducting a survey of residents in
American Samoa and are interested in obtaining your opinions on some important issues
related to coral reefs and the environment in American Samoa. Your participation is
voluntary and will be kept strictly confidential.

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PARTICIPATION IN REEF ACTIVITIES

No Response

4 times a
month or
more

2-3 times a
month

Once a
month or
less

Never

1. How often do you usually participate in each of the following activities?

Swimming/wading
Snorkeling
Diving (SCUBA or free diving)
Waterside/ beach camping
Beach recreation (beach sports, picnics)
Boating
Outrigger canoe/Fautasi
Surfing
Fishing
Gathering of marine resources (lobsters,
conch, seaweed, palolo)
SKIP PATTERN-- If respondent answers ‘never’ to fishing or gathering of marine
resources, then skip to #3:

CORAL REEF RELIANCE / CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF REEFS

No
Response

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Frequently

2. How often do you fish or harvest marine resources (includes all fishing and harvesting of
shells, octopus, lobster, sea cucumber, or other non-fish species) for each of the
following reasons?

To feed myself and my family/ household
To sell
To give to extended family members and/or friends
To give to pastors and village leaders)
For fun
For special occasions and cultural events (e.g.,

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No
Response

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Frequently
fa’alavelave)
3. How often does your family eat fish/seafood?
a. Every day
b. A few times a week
c. About once a week
d. 1-3 times a month
e. Less than once a month
f. Never

SKIP PATTERN-- If respondent answers f. Never, skip to question #5
4. Where do you get the fish or seafood your family eats? Please pick the top 2.
a. Purchased by myself or someone in my household at a store or restaurant
b. Purchased by myself or someone in my household at a market or roadside
vendor
c. Caught by myself or someone in my household
d. Caught by extended family members
e. Other, please specify ______________________

PERCEIVED RESOURCE CONDITION

Not sure

Very
Good

Neither
Bad nor
G d
Good

Bad

Very
Bad

5. In your opinion, how are American Samoa’s marine resources currently doing? Please
rank from very bad to very good.

Ocean Water Quality (clean and clear)
Amount of Coral
Number of Fish
Number of Faisua (Giant Clams)
Amount of animals for gleaning (shells,
octopus, etc.)
6. How would you say the condition of each of the following has changed over the last 10
years: from 1=it has gotten a lot worse to 5=it has gotten a lot better. [Q53]

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Not Sure

A lot Better

Somewhat
Better

No Change

Somewhat
Worse

A lot Worse
Ocean Water Quality (clean and clear)
Amount of Coral
Number of Fish
Number of Faisua (Giant Clams)
Amount of animals for gleaning
(shells, octopus, etc.)

7. In the next 10 years, do you think the condition of the marine resources in American
Samoa will get worse, stay the same or improve?
a. Get worse
b. Stay the same
c. Improve
d. Not sure
AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF CORAL REEFS

Not Sure

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Neither

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

8. Please say whether you disagree or agree with each of the following statements.

Coral reefs protect the American Samoa from
erosion and natural disasters.
Coral reefs are only important to fishermen,
divers and snorkelers.
Healthy coral reefs attract tourists to American
Samoa.
Coral reefs are important to American Samoa
culture.

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Not sure

Very
Familiar

Familiar

Neither
Familiar nor
Unfamiliar

Unfamiliar

Very
Unfamiliar

9. How familiar are you with each of the following potential threats facing the coral reefs in
American Samoa?

Climate change
Coral bleaching
Hurricanes and other natural disasters
Pollution (stormwater, wastewater,
chemical runoff and trash/littering)
Coastal/urban development
Invasive species
Too much fishing and gathering
Damage from ships and boats
Crown of Thorn starfish outbreaks
(alamea)

10. Do you believe that the threats to coral reefs in American Samoa are:
a.
b.
e.
f.

Extreme
Large
None
Not sure

c. Moderate
d. Minimal

ATTITUDES TOWARDS CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND
ENFORCEMENT
11. A Marine Protected Area is an area of the ocean where human activity is typically
restricted to protect living, non-living, cultural, and/or historic resources. How familiar are
you with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Very Unfamiliar
Unfamiliar
Neither Unfamiliar nor Familiar
Familiar
Very Familiar
Not sure

SKIP PATTERN-- If respondent answers a ‘Very unfamiliar’ or b ‘Unfamiliar’, then skip
to #12:

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Not Sure

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Neither
Agree nor
Disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

12. Please indicate how much you disagree or agree with each of the following statements.

MPAs protect coral reefs
MPAs increase the number of fish
There should be fewer MPAs in American
Samoa
There should be more MPAs in American
Samoa
There has been economic benefit to American
Samoa from the establishment of MPAs
Fishermen’s livelihoods have been negatively
impacted from the establishment of MPAs in
American Samoa
MPAs help increase tourism in American
Samoa
The establishment of MPAs increases the
likelihood that people will vacation in
American Samoa
I would support adding new MPAs in
American Samoa if there is evidence that the
ones we have are improving American
Samoa’s marine resources
I generally support the establishment of MPAs

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AWARENESS OF CORAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Not Sure

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Neither Agree
nor Disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

13. The following are proposed or existing strategies used to manage the marine
environment in American Samoa. We are interested in your opinion about the use of
these strategies to improve the protection of coral reefs. Please indicate how much you
disagree or agree with each of the following:

Ban on fishing “big fish” species including
bumphead parrotfish, humphead wrasse,
giant grouper
Expansion of Fagatele National Marine
Sanctuary
Establishing community-based Village
MPAs
Establishing permanent no-take MPAs
Establishing areas with temporary fishing
closures

PARTICIPATION IN BEHAVIORS THAT MAY IMPROVE CORAL HEALTH
14. How often do you participate in any activity to protect the environment (for example,
beach clean ups, volunteering with an environmental group)?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Not At All
Once a year or Less
Several times a year
At least once a month
Several Times a Month or more
Not Sure

15. Which of the following would you consider to be your top 3 sources of information about
coral reefs and the environment in American Samoa? [interviewer checks the top 3
sources of information in box below]

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Not sure

Very Trustworthy

Trustworthy

Neither
Trustworthy nor
Untrustworthy

Sources

Untrustworthy

Top 3

Very untrustworthy

16. To what degree do you trust each of your top rated sources of information to provide
you the most accurate information on coral reefs and coral reef related topics in
American Samoa? [respondent rates only the top 3 sources of information in box
below]

Newspapers, other print publications
Radio
TV
Internet
Friends and family
Community leaders
Church leaders
Government of American Samoa (Dept.
of Marine and Wildlife, AS EPA,
Coastal Management Program)
Federal government agencies (NOAA,
National Parks, US EPA)
Other:___________________________

17. How involved is the local community in protecting and managing coral reefs?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Not at all involved
Somewhat involved
Moderately involved
Involved
Very involved
Not sure

18. How involved are you in making decisions related to the management of coral reefs in
American Samoa?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Not at all involved
Slightly involved
Moderately involved
Involved

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e. Very involved
f. Not sure

DEMOGRAPHICS
I just have a few more questions that will help us to interpret our results. As a
reminder, the information you provide is completely confidential.
19. Are you male or female?
a. Male
b. Female
20. What is your year of birth? __________________
21. How long have you lived in American Samoa?
a. 1 year or less
b. 2-5 years
c. 6-10 years
d. more than 10 years
e. all my life

22. Including your primary language, please name each language you speak. [interviewer
should not read options below, but should allow respondent to answer]
1. English
2. Spanish
3. French
4. German
5. Italian
6. Portuguese
7. Arabic
8. Chinese
9. Japanese
10. Korean
11. Tagolog
12. Hindi

13. Hawaiian
14. Hawaii Pidgin English
15. Sāmoan
16. Chamorro
17. Carolinian
18. Creole
19. Crucian
20. Tongan
21. Other: Please list
__________________
22. No Response

23. What race/ethnicity do you consider yourself? [interviewer should not read options
below, but should allow respondent to answer]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Chamorro
Filipino
Carolinian
Korean
Yapese
Kosraen
Chuukese

8. Pohnpeian
9. Palauan
10. Chinese
11. Japanese
12. Indian
13. Samoan

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14. Native Hawaiian or other
Pacific Islander
15. White
16. American Indian or Alaskan
Native

17. Other: Please specify
__________________
18. No response

24. What is the highest level of education you have completed?
a. 8th Grade or Less
b. Some high school
c. High School Graduate, GED
d. Some college, community college or AA
e. College Graduate
f. Graduate School, Law School, Medical School
g. No Response

25. What is your current employment status?
a. Unemployed
b. Student
c. Employed full-time
d. Homemaker
e. Employed part-time
f. Retired
g. None of the above: Please specify __________________
h. No Response
26. What is your occupation? [open ended] ___________________ [Q125]

27. May I ask, what is your annual household income?
a. Under $10,000
b. $10,000-19,999
c. $20,000-29,999
d. $30,000-39,999
e. $40,000-49,999
f. $50,000-59,999
g. $60,000-74,999
h. $75,000-99,999
i. $100,000-149,999
j. $150,000 or More
k. No Response

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
If you would like a copy of the results, please provide us with your mailing address or email
address (write on separate contact sheet that is not linked to survey answers).
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