Deep-Sea Mining Legal Fight: Fa‘asao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, represented by Earthjustice, sued to stop the first-ever commercial sale of deep-sea mining leases off American Samoa, challenging the claim that mining won’t harm endangered species. Local & Regional Policy Pressure: The Trump administration’s push is also advancing in the Northern Mariana Islands, with a proposed lease sale set for Dec. 16—prompting warnings from Guam leaders to move only as fast as science allows. NOAA Ocean Mapping: NOAA and partners announced two deepwater expeditions around American Samoa (Aug–Sep and late Sep–Oct) to map and characterize seafloor areas tied to offshore critical mineral exploration, with real-time ROV streaming and public data. Catholic Caution: Pacific Catholic bishops urged prudence on deep-sea mining, citing uncertainty and the risk of irreversible harm. STEM Education Boost: Society for Science selected 100 educators for its 2026–27 Advocate Program, including a lead advocate track totaling $326,000 to expand student research and science competitions. Local Skills & Tech Training: The American Samoa Seafood Academy graduated inaugural trainees, upgrading local commercial fishing capacity with modern vessel tech. Aviation Recovery Tech: Samoa Airways’ damaged Twin Otter 5W-FAY was recovered from Fitiuta and is now being dismantled after repair was ruled out, using specialized engineering and heavy equipment.