A new grassroots movement in American Samoa is hoping to collect 10,000 signatures in a bid to help save the local tuna industry.
The move comes after the Starkist cannery announced it was considering moving some production off island due to rising costs.
Cannery, American Samoa Photo: Supplied
The movement's leader, Kathy Pilimai, is calling on President Barack Obama to help save the local canneries and says feedback to the petition has been positive.
"The response has been tremendous, I have to say, it's been a really really, they all know, we're at the precipice if we don't do anything, it's just not going to be good for all of us."
Mrs Piliami says if the canneries leave it will have a catastrophic domino effect on the economy.
