The Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary in American Samoa is among 14 United States sites that are to be included on a new World Heritage Tentative List.
The 14 properties on the new list will now be eligible to be considered for nomination by the US to the UNESCO World Heritage List, which recognises the most significant cultural and natural treasures.
The list was announced by US Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.
Fagatele Bay contains a vast array of tropical marine organisms, including corals, marine mammals, and threatened and endangered species, including hawksbill and green sea turtles.
The Bay is administered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
