Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  American Samoa called for stronger regional support on fuel security, drought, fisheries and territory access to international funding to build resilience to changing environmental conditions at the 56th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA 56) of the Pacific Community (SPC), held October 27-28, 2026, at SPC headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia. 

CRA is SPC's annual governing meeting. Representatives of SPC's 27 member countries and territories review the organization's work, approve its budget and set its priorities. Governor Pula designated Nathan P. Ilaoa, Director of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, as American Samoa's Head of Delegation. 

Governor Pulaali'i Nikolao Pula said, "American Samoa's participation in regional discussions such as CRA 56 is vital to ensuring that the concerns and priorities of our territory are heard and addressed.

"Our people depend on the ocean for their livelihoods, our economy, and our way of life. As we face challenges brought about by rising fuel costs, changing environmental conditions, and limited access to international funding, we must continue to strengthen our partnerships and advocate for solutions that protect our communities and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.”

A YEAR OF FUEL SHOCKS AND EL NIÑO

The meeting opened with SPC Director-General Dr. Paula Vivili's first report to CRGA since taking office, in which he described a year of compounding shocks across the region, including a fuel crisis and a historic El Niño. Ilaoa thanked the Director-General for his official visit to American Samoa on July 8-10, 2026, and told members that both pressures reach American Samoa through its ocean economy. 

"Our economy rests on tuna. Our longline fleet is under real pressure from fuel costs, and our cannery depends on a steady supply of fish," Ilaoa said. He added that "El Niño will impact both our fisheries and our agricultural systems." 

FISHERIES, FUEL AND DROUGHT

Reviewing the outcomes of SPC's 2026 sectoral ministerial meetings, including the Seventh Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting and the Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministerial Meeting, Ilaoa underlined the toll fuel costs are taking on American Samoa's fishing fleet.

"Tuna is the backbone of American Samoa's economy. Our cannery is our largest private employer and canned tuna is by far our largest export, so when our fleet struggles, the whole territory feels it," he said. "When boats stay in port, our cannery loses supply, and families lose both income and the fish that feeds our community!" 

Ilaoa noted that the territory's domestic longline fleet has fallen from more than 70 vessels two decades ago to six active vessels today. He asked that the impact of the fuel crisis on fisheries be carried through the next regional Heads of Fisheries and Fisheries Ministers meetings to Pacific leaders. 

He also highlighted the Water and Wastewater Ministers' call for early support ahead of El Niño. "American Samoa has been in moderate drought since August, and the forecast is for it to get worse. Early action on water storage and supply is far cheaper than an emergency response," he said. 

OCEAN AND FOOD SECURITY

CRA approved the integration of the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science into SPC's technical divisions under its Ocean Flagship. Ilaoa supported the change and asked that the Secretariat's report to next year's meeting show how the Ocean Flagship treats ocean food security as core work for small island members, including territories. 

"Fish feed our families and our communities," he said. "The ocean is also our economy." 

ENERGY AND REGIONAL COOPERATION

Members welcomed the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' decision to place a new Renewable Energy Commissioner within SPC, reporting to both SPC and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Speaking for a Forum associate member and full SPC member, Ilaoa welcomed the decision. 

"Most of our territory's power still comes from imported diesel, and this year's fuel shock showed again how exposed that leaves us," he said. 

He also asked that SPC's report to CRGA 57 on the Forum's Review of Regional Architecture explain how any new arrangements will serve members that are not eligible for official development assistance. "For us, SPC is one of the few regional partners we can turn to, which is why these arrangements matter," he said. 

American Samoa and Guam also supported Wallis and Futuna in highlighting the difficulties smaller island territories face in accessing technical, legal and financial support from regional organizations. 

A Joint Territory Call on Access to International Funding 

A JOINT TERRITORY CALL ON ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL FUNDING

Under the agenda item on resource mobilization, American Samoa joined the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam in a joint statement, delivered by the CNMI representative on behalf of all three territories. Supported by Wallis and Futuna, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, the statement highlighted that several major international funds remain closed to the territories. 

"We are not eligible for official development assistance," the statement said, adding that the territories nonetheless face "shared threats from sea-level rise, storms, drought and ocean warming."

The territories thanked SPC and its partners for opening the first round of the Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity initiative to territories. 

They asked that future rounds give all three territories meaningful opportunities to take part, and that SPC prepare a simple guide to the financing instruments territories can access. "We ask that those efforts include all three of our territories, so that our eligibility status does not leave our communities behind," the statement said. 

OTHER OUTCOMES

CRGA also: 
• Approved a revised Constitution for the Pacific Plant Protection Organization, the Pacific's regional plant protection body, which supports regional cooperation on plant health and biosecurity;
• Approved SPC's revised 2026 budget and a balanced budget for 2027; and 
• Asked SPC to develop options, with members and its regional offices, for delivering services closer to members, for consideration at CRA 57, and to provide members with quarterly updates on its work through those offices. 

CRGA 57 will be held in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, on October 26-27, 2027, followed by the 15th Conference of the Pacific Community on October 28-29, during SPC's 80th anniversary year. 

"Our Administration remains committed to working closely with our regional partners to ensure that American Samoa is not left behind in accessing the resources, technical assistance, and opportunities necessary for our development. While our territory faces unique challenges, our commitment to building a resilient economy, protecting our natural resources, and improving the well-being of our people remains steadfast. 

"Together, through cooperation and shared responsibility, we can build a stronger and more sustainable Pacific for our children and future generations," Governor Pulaali' stated. 

About the Pacific Community Founded in 1947, the Pacific Community (SPC) is the Pacific region's main scientific and technical organization, with 27 member countries and territories. American Samoa is a full member of SPC in its own right and is served by SPC's Polynesia Regional Office in Nuku'alofa, Tonga.