American Samoa has told the Tuna Commission meeting in Bali that it's economy has suffered a setback because of the closure of nearby fishing grounds.
The Director of Marine and Wildlife Resources Ruth Matagi-Tofiga says there was a 45% reduction in purse seine port calls compared to the previous year.
Dr Matagi-Tofiga asked that the Commission consider American Samoa as a Small Island Developing State and apply special protections to avoid negative impacts of the Commision's conservation measure on the territory.
The Commission meeting ended yesterday.
