Six community members advise the Deep Ocean Sustainability Initiative’s education and outreach program, bringing fisheries science, infrastructure, federal–territorial relations, culture and community leadership to the table. Their job is to make sure the public gets fair, accurate and honest information about deep-sea minerals — and a plain answer when something is not yet known.
How the panel works
The Advisory Panel is a working group under Subcommittee 06, Community Engagement and Education, of the Governor’s Deep-Sea Minerals Steering Committee. Members do not advocate for or against seabed mining. They serve as a neutral broker of information for the community, reviewing what the program publishes and helping it stay accurate, balanced and easy to understand.
“Extension agents strive to share the best available information in an unbiased manner. This approach neatly dovetails with the DSM Community Advisory Panel’s goal of providing our community with fair, accurate, and honest information and data whenever possible and being honest when information isn’t known or available.”
Kelley Tagarino · Hawaiʻi Sea Grant · Advisory Panel member
Members6 panelists
Who is on the panel
Select a member to read their full bio, roles and focus areas.
Panelist · 01
Taotasi Archie Soliai
Former Director, Department of Marine and...
Fisheries Management
Natural Resources & Conservation
Marine Environment
Panelist · 02
Dr. Domingo Ochavillo
Chief Fisheries Biologist, Department of Marine...
Fisheries Science & Stock Assessment
Coral Reef Ecology & Conservation
Marine Ecosystems & Oceanography
Panelist · 03
Kelley Tagarino
Extension Agent, University of Hawaiʻi Sea...
Empowering local groups to understand and meet the impacts of rapid relative sea-level rise
Furthering local resilience
Encouraging sustainable seafood in American Samoa
Panelist · 04
Lydia Faleafine-Nomura
Retired Field Representative – American Samoa,...
Federal–Territorial Partnerships
Community Development
Infrastructure & Resilience
Panelist · 05
Theodore (Ted) Leiato
Special Projects Manager, American Samoa Telecommunications...
Electrical Power Generation
Renewable Energy Development
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Panelist · 06
Tisa Faʻamuli
Founder, Alega Marine Sanctuary; Owner, Tisa's...
Environmental Protection & Ocean Conservation
Marine Sanctuaries & Blue Parks
Community Development & Empowerment
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