American Samoa ESI: CASSPT (Coral Areas of Special Significance - Points)

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for "Coral Areas of Special Significance" in American Samoa. Coral Areas of Special Significance were designated by resource experts as those areas that should be highly prioritized for protection following spills, due to various reasons (e.g., species diversity, rare coral, endangered/threatened marine animal species, high fish/invertebrate concentrations, sensitive habitat, etc.). In this data set, they are represented by vector points. This data set comprises a portion of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for American Samoa. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the BENTHIC (Benthic Marine Habitat Polygons) data layer, part of the larger American Samoa ESI database, for additional coral information.