The American Samoan Congresswoman Aumua Amata says American Samoa is still a viable and profitable location for the canneries.
She was responding to an announcement by the Starkist Samoa cannery that it will stop hiring new staff, and is looking at shifting some of its production offshore.
Aumua Amata says Starkist should resist the temptation of hiring cheap labour.
She has also asked the cannery to continue to work with the local government and with Congress, so that the firm can stay in American Samoa for many years to come.
Starkist, which is the territory's largest private sector employer, says it has suffered due to the minimum wage increase of 40 cents an hour.
US Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen. Photo: radewagen.house.gov
