StarKist and the territory's economy: workforce numbers, sustainability, and what's next
An analysis of StarKist's role in American Samoa's economy and what the new plant manager's priorities signal about the company's future here.
StarKist Samoa employs approximately 2,200 workers at its Pago Pago facility — making it one of the territory's largest private employers by a significant margin. The plant's economic footprint, including wages, local supply contracts, and port activity, is estimated at over $80 million annually.
New plant manager Andrew Choi, who took the role in February, told Talatala Le Ta'ui that the company is committed to its American Samoa operations 'for the foreseeable future' — but also acknowledged that global tuna supply dynamics and shipping costs are constant pressures.
The plant's sustainability practices have come under scrutiny in recent years. Choi pointed to new wastewater treatment investments and participation in the Marine Stewardship Council certification process as evidence of the company's environmental commitments.
Labor conditions remain a sensitive subject. Minimum wage levels for American Samoa's tuna canning industry have historically been lower than the federal minimum, a policy that Congress has maintained through specific exemptions. Advocacy groups continue to push for parity.
The broader question for American Samoa is what economic diversification looks like if, at some point, the cannery's role shrinks. That is a question the territory's leadership has not yet fully answered.