American Samoa's government has criticized US plans to expand the size of a marine sanctuary around the US territory, saying it will damage the economy. The proposed sanctuary would cover waters around several uninhabited islands and atolls that are home to some of the most diverse and remarkable tropical marine life on the planet. The expansion would increase the extent of the sanctuaries around Howland and Baker Islands and Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll. tuna fishing provides about 5,000 jobs in American Samoa, but the industry has been in decline. If the sanctuary expansion is approved, US vessels would have to fish farther away from the territory, potentially impacting the industry.

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