Climate Change Shows Growing Challenges to Multi-Million Dollar American Samoa Tuna Fishery
A new report from the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) highlights the growing challenge of climate change to the multi-million-dollar tuna industry in American Samoa.
As sea level continues to rise, the future of businesses like the StarKist Samoa cannery, located at sea level in Pago Pago Harbor, are in question. The cannery provides over 80% of private employment in American Samoa, as well as nationals of other Pacific Island countries and territories, including Samoa, Niue, Tokelau and Tonga.
Tuna exports from American Samoa are valued at some $353 million annually, with canned tuna comprising 99.5% of the total. “Loss of this industry due to the implications of climate change would be devastating to American Samoa and the communities it supports, the WPR...