The recent decision by President Donald Trump (R) to reopen portions of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to commercial fishing has drawn renewed attention to American Samoa’s tuna industry, a key sector of the territory’s economy. While the affected waters lie outside American Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone, local officials say the move carries significant implications for jobs, exports, and long-term economic viability.
The Pacific Remote Islands monument was originally established in 2009 by President George W. Bush and later expanded in 2014 under President Barack Obama, placing nearly 500,000 square miles of United States waters off-limits to commercial fishing. In 2025, Trump issued a proclamation reopening those areas to United States-flagged fishing vessels.
Archie Soliai, Executive Advisor for Natural Resources in the American Samoa Government (ASG), emphasized the importance of the policy change following a recent visit to Washington, DC, where he joined Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen (R) to advocate for the territory’s economic interests.
“This is not just a policy issue—it’s a matter of economic survival for our people,” Soliai said.
According to ASG, the tuna industry accounts for more than 83% of private-sector jobs in American Samoa and 99% of the territory’s exports. The StarKist Samoa cannery processes over 100,000 tons of tuna annually, producing an estimated 500 million cans primarily for the United States market. ASG estimates that one in four cans of shelf-stable tuna sold in the country is sourced from American Samoa.
Officials argue that reopening the fishing grounds will strengthen food security and economic competitiveness while maintaining compliance with federal environmental regulations.
Local government says environmental protections remain in place
Despite concerns raised by conservation advocates, ASG says that existing environmental safeguards have not been rolled back. Fishing will remain prohibited within 50 miles of the monument islands, and federal laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and seabird conservation regulations continue to apply.
US-flagged vessels operating in the reopened areas must also comply with the conservation standards of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and scientific assessments by regional fishery management organizations have concluded that tuna stocks remain healthy and are not overfished.
“There has been a lot of misinformation, but the reality is that environmental safeguards remain firmly in place,” said Soliai. “This is a measured decision, not a reckless one.”
Industry competitiveness and federal compliance
Local officials point to the higher production costs in American Samoa compared to global competitors such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Despite these challenges, the territory benefits from duty-free access to the United States market and proximity to rich fishing grounds. These advantages, paired with compliance with labor and environmental standards, help ensure that American Samoa’s tuna products meet federal procurement requirements, including for the US Department of Defense and the USDA’s National School Lunch Program.
ASG asserts that the reopening of the fishing grounds could help maintain the competitiveness of US-flagged fishing fleets and support both local jobs and national food supply chains.
The Office of the Governor encouraged residents and stakeholders to stay informed and seek reliable sources when discussing developments related to the reopened fishing areas.
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