A public meeting in American Samoa on the plan to expand the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary heard strong opposition against it.
The meeting last night was the first public hearing on the draft management plan which the Federal government released last month.
Fear of more federal control and losing fishing grounds which means loss of livelihoods for some families were some of the main reasons that opponents cited.
Several were outraged at not being informed about the plan in advance.
One resident from the village of Vaitogi, one of the areas of water included in the expansion plan, Peter Tinitali, says limiting fishing at Fogama's to only line and hook is absurd.
He said that means other methods of fishing such as freediving and netting would not be an option.
