The governor of American Samoa recently signed an executive order banning the catching of all shark species, humphead wrasse fish and bumphead parrotfish in territorial waters. Governor Togiola stated that the order was based on the advice of marine scientists and fisheries managers under the leadership of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

“These species are so depleted that any further loss will threaten their survival in our waters in our territory. A recent study found that American Samoa only has 48 percent of the sharks that it should. And this executive order I have just signed was put in place to help protect and preserve these central, keystone species.”

Source can be reviewed here.

Murray W. Camp/MASNA ILOC Director