Deep-Sea Mining Rules Under Fire: Legal experts warn proposed U.S. seabed-mining leasing and permitting updates could weaken environmental review, shrink public input, and create more chances to sidestep protections. Monuments Fishing Showdown: A U.S. bill would bar presidents from banning commercial fishing in marine national monuments, pushing management back under the Magnuson-Stevens Act—an issue that directly affects Pacific waters. American Samoa Seafloor Talent: A local student was selected for a Seafloor Mapping & Hydrography internship aboard E/V Nautilus, using a new acoustic multibeam mapping system to chart seafloor between Hawai‘i and Guam. Fisheries Science for Bottomfish: The Western Pacific Council’s Scientific & Statistical Committee endorsed the 2026 American Samoa Bottomfish Stock Assessment Update and urged better length-based assessment tools plus climate-ready planning. Aunu’u Wharf Upgrade: With rough seas limiting access, officials updated the Aunu’u Wharf Reconstruction Project—an Alia passenger and cargo-capable rebuild with an Environmental Assessment underway and construction targeted for 2027–2029. Seabird Field Work: DMWR’s seabird team deployed sound recorders in Fagaitua as part of an ongoing seabird project with Archipelago Research and Conservation. Invasive Ant Alert: Little Fire Ants keep spreading on Tutuila, with at least 26 detected sites and ongoing concerns about how people and plant materials move colonies. Pacific Earthquake Monitoring: After a powerful Philippines quake, tsunami monitoring stayed active across much of the Pacific, including American Samoa, though New Zealand reported no threat.