Fish surveys were conducted in November 2007 using visual census techniques at Fagatele Bay under the guidance of Dr. Alison Green, the Nature Conservancy. This data set was collected at Transect 2, Fagatele Bay, in collaboration with surveys of NODC Accession 0066319, which is composed of coral and benthic surveys by Dr. Douglas Fenner and Dr. Charles Birkeland. Set 0066319 includes other locations on Tutuila, though this fish set is only from Fagatele Bay, and due to conditions, was restricted to Transect 2, at depths of 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18m.

Transects of the coral colonies at 21 sites in American Samoa were surveyed by Dr. Charles Birkeland during an underwater swim in March 2002. Data for each coral species include abundances and size distributions of the colonies. The living coral cover can be estimated from the size distribution data. Data were collected by the US DOI; Geological Survey - Honolulu in support of the Coral Reef Studies.

Habitat quadrats were surveyed at 1 to ~5 m depths using transects conducted at a total four (4) sites: (1-2) at 2 longshore sites on the leeward coast (South Kohala district) of the Big Island (Hawaii Island, in the MHI) during spring-summer 2008; and (3-4) at 2 longshore sites on the back reef of Midway Atoll (NWHI) in summer 2008. Substratum cover and rugosity were characterized within multiple quadrats at each site. Two types of quadrats were surveyed: "Reference" ('REF') quadrats (whose positions were randomly selected) and "Target" ('TAR') quadrats (positions centered on sightings of recruit fishes); each quadrat was square and 1-m**2 area. In each quadrat, the benthic cover of each of fourteen (14) main substratum types were estimated, as was a "Rugosity Index" based on the ratio of conforming-to-straight line distances along both major axes of the quadrat.

Six permanent transects in Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, American Samoa, and 11 other sites around Tutuila Island were established in 1985. This dataset contains coral reef surveys taken in 1995 and 1998 along these established transect lines. Data were taken on 30-m transects along isobaths on the reef platform and at depths of 3, 5, 9, and 12 m. Data on algae, fish, and macroinvertebrates were also collected by other investigators, but are not included with this data set. Data includes coral species, size distribution of colonies, frequency, density per 100m2, relative density, percent cover and relative cover.

A survey of coral communities was carried out in the American Samoa Archipelago to assess the current status of coral reefs and provide a rigorous quantitative baseline dataset for future monitoring of these reefs. Five replicate belt transects were used to estimate the size structure, density and percent cover of corals at 29 locations around Tutuila and Manu'a Islands during October and November, 1995. Data are in .xls and .csv format with associated document files

The State of Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) DAR (Division of Aquatic Resources) marine monitoring team conducted surveys for fish and large mobile invertebrates along the West Hawaii coastline. Data were recorded along 5x25 meter transects at random sites going as far south as Manuka and as far North as Upolu Point. Data collection for one transect was completed at each site. Data are provided as individual observations noting species, quantity, and size of fish and species and quantity of invertebrates.

The State of Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) DAR (Division of Aquatic Resources) marine monitoring team conducted surveys for fish and large mobile invertebrates along the West Hawaii coastline. Data were recorded along 5x25 meter transects at random sites going as far south as Manuka and as far North as Upolu Point. Data collection for one transect was completed at each site. Data are provided as individual observations noting species, quantity, and size of fish and species and quantity of invertebrates.

Benthic transects were repeated at 12 sites around Tutuila at various depths on the reef slopes and flats. Benthic coverage categories include coral species, invertebrates, and non-living substrate type. Annual surveys took place during 2005-2009. The most detailed data are from 2008. The data were provided as spreadsheets and metadata within a PDF document, focusing on the 2008 surveys. A related data set was can be found in NCEI Accession 0066319, which was derived from surveys in Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Pago Pago (Rainmaker and Aua), and Fagasa (Sita Bay and Cape Larsen) conducted in 2004 and 2007-2008. Parameters include coral, algal, or invertebrate species, coral colony diameter size, and non-living bottom type. Also in 0066319 are summaries of species identification from sites above and Ofu-Olosega Islands, Ta'u Island, Aunu'u, Manu'a, and Rose Atoll, based on historic surveys back to 1917 are also given in spreadsheets. This is a working list put together by Dr. Charles Birkeland.

To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, from 20120401 to 20120426, reef fish assessment surveys were conducted, as a part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), during the Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HA1201 in the American Samoa region by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). During the cruise, 30 REA sites were surveyed at Ofu & Olosega in the American Samoa region. At each REA site, fish biologists entered the water and conducted a fine-scale (~700 m^2) and high degree of taxonomic resolution REA survey to assess and monitor species diversity, size distribution, and abundance of fish in shallow-water hard-bottom (less than 30 m) habitats. Reef fish assessment surveys were focused on cataloging the diversity (species richness), abundance (numeric density) and biomass (fish mass per unit area) of diurnally active reef fish assemblages. The stationary point count (SPC) method was used to quantify reef fish species. Two divers lay out a 30 m transect line, and position themselves at the 7.5 and 22.5 meter marks. The SPC biologist then records estimated size and abundance of all fish within a visually estimated 15-m diameter cylinder centered on the stationary diver (7.5-m radius, total area ~ 177m^2 per cylinder). The diver first spends 5 minutes identifying all fish species in the cylindrical area, then proceeds to count and estimate size (total length) for each in a series of "instantaneous" point counts or sweeps of the cylinder. Fish were identified at the species level, wherever possible. All reef-associated fish, including those in the water column, were surveyed. The survey time for each stationary point count survey was approximately 20 min and generally four stationary point count surveys (two per diver) were conducted at each fish REA site. After completing REA surveys, divers noted the presence, at the survey site, of any unusual fish species not counted during SPC counts, in order to facilitate species lists per location.