I have written about colonialism and neo-colonialism in fisheries, and my work, either directly by the influences of former colonial countries or via the imposition of standards, either regulatory (unilateral market access requirements) or commercial (like private 3rd party certifications and ecolabels)
https://southpacificislands.travel/new-travel-guide-for-american-samoa-marks-major-leap-for-tourism/
I explored the role of the US during the “Tuna Wars” in my “Tuna Diplomacy” blogs, and, before that, the “Guano Islands Act” as a striking example of neo-imperialism. Add to that a long-term interest in the Spanish Oceania and how the USA either took over them or pushed Spain into selling them to Germany, all compounded by this fascinating history book I recently read, “How to Hide an Empire’
So when along my feeds a paper named “Amerika Samoa Vs. The World. The Disproportionate Socioeconomic Burden in Conservation Borne By American Samoa as an Unrecognised Small Island Developing State under Colonial Rule” I had to have a look (not only because of the long name that acts as an abstract!), and then to my surprise (or not) it was written by someone I know well, Tim Costelloe, who may be the fisheries official that has worked for more administrations I know!)
As a New Zealander, proud of his Irish and Maori roots… His disdain for colonialism runs deep, and we have discussed it for nearly two decades.
Anyway, here is my summary of the paper; I still suggest you read the original.
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His paper examines the socioeconomic challenges faced by American Samoa, a U.S. unincorporated territory, stemming from federal marine conservation policies and its lack of recognition as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). The main issue concerns the Biden administration's 2023 Presidential Proclamation 14008, which proposed expanding National Marine Monuments (NMMS) in the Central Pacific Ocean as part of the global 30x30 conservation initiative.
This policy would have closed significant fishing areas within American Samoa’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), forcing its tuna fishing fleet to operate in the High Seas, which would increase costs and competition, and threaten the survival of the territory’s only remaining tuna cannery in Pago Pago. The cannery is vital to the local economy, which relies heavily on the tuna fishing industry. The potential closure of the cannery would have devastating effects on the territory’s economy, further deepening its dependence on U.S. federal welfare.
The paper highlights American Samoa’s unique status as a U.S. territory that is not fully integrated into the federal system. Its residents are recognised as U.S. Nationals rather than citizens, and the territory lacks voting representation in Congress. This dual disenfranchisement makes American Samoa vulnerable to federal policies that often neglect its economic and social realities.
Furthermore, the territory’s lack of recognition as an SIDS worsens its difficulties, as it is excluded from the international benefits and protections granted to other Pacific Island nations under agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement(UNFSA). This is because its colonial master is not a signatory of UNCLOS, although it has signed UNFSA (albeit the latter being an implementing agreement of the former).
The study criticises the U.S. for using American Samoa as a "sacrificial zone" to meet global conservation targets while avoiding environmental reforms on the mainland. It argues that such policies exemplify a broader pattern of environmental imperialism, where powerful nations impose conservation burdens on marginalised communities.
The rescission of Proclamation 14008 by President Trump in 2025 offered temporary relief but did not address systemic inequalities in the U.S.-American Samoa relationship.
The paper promotes a justice-centred approach to marine conservation that prioritises the voices and agency of American Samoa. It suggests granting the territory autonomy over its EEZ, officially recognising it as an SIDS, and establishing legally binding consultation processes for federal policies that affect its economy. Additionally, transitional measures should be implemented to support economic diversification and reduce dependence on federal welfare.
The document also underscores the lack of support from other Pacific Island nations for American Samoa’s SIDS recognition, partly due to its colonial ties to the U.S. This has resulted in further marginalisation in regional and international forums, such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
In conclusion, the document highlights the need for a fundamental reassessment of the asymmetric relationship between American Samoa and the U.S. It advocates for policies that respect the territory’s internal sovereignty, promote sustainable economic growth, and address the uneven conservation burden it faces.
And for me, the killer paragraph is:
The situation of American Samoa is, therefore, a microcosm of a global injustice, exposing the tendency of wealthy, powerful nations to outsource the burdens of environmental conservation to marginalised communities and foreign fishing zones, played out as a textbook case of the asymmetric imposition of the will of the privileged centre to use less privileged peripheral territories as sacrificial zones for virtue-signalling policies.
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My take: This issue has been raised before at the WCPFC, yet, unfortunately for American Samoa, the USA has not gained many friends over the years, and people in the region do not forget the tuna wars or the threats of cutting all assistance as a consequence of the PICs' renegotiation of the tuna treaty. So, you have to feel for American Samoa, caught in a halfway sandwich between the USA, which would never let them go. The SIDS that will not accept them as one of their own as long as they remain part of the most powerful country in the West... This would be similar if Wallis and Futuna asked for the same while being part of France. Yet it would be for the brilliant people and the lawyers to decide whether this violates the WCPFC Convention.
So yeah… credit to Tim for highlighting this issue academically and pinpointing the colonial-era outposts of the old and new empires that still exist, where it needs to be addressed.