The American Samoan governor, Togiola Tulafono, has highlighted the importance of fisheries resources for the US Pacific islands.
Togiola spoke at the opening of a meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council.
The council regulates and develops fishery management plans for the Western Pacific Region.
The governor said he was disappointed that the federal government has discontinued federal funding to develop fisheries project.
"We can't just fish out the ocean. We've got to have some control and management plans that will help us sustain industry, not only we can develop it commercially but also help us sustain our subsistence living."
