American Samoa's Governor, Togiola Tulafono, has issued an order prohibiting the practice of shark finning.
The order bans the landing or processing of fins brought in without a corresponding carcass.
Togiola said the preservation of the territory's living marine resources, including healthy and sustainable fish and shark populations, should be a priority issue for the benefit of present and future generations.
The order coincides with US government laws that prohibit shark finning in US waters.
