Lemanu calls for a scientific study before moving on expanding Remote Islands Marine National Monument

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a letter to U.S President Joe Biden opposing the federal government’s proposed expansion of Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM), Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga said such a move “would have a significant negative impact on the economy of American Samoa and undermine our nation’s strategic interest in the Pacific.”

“Please help us sustain and protect our delicate, fishing-based economy by denying the proposed expansion of the PRIMNM,” Lemanu pleaded with Biden in a June 15 letter, and requested that before the expansion, for the President to commission a scientific study to ensure the expansion accomplishes its intended goals.

The governor points out that “China continues to make inroads in Pacific fishing areas; as we lose our influence in the area, China’s grows” and American Samoa is “in a position of importance to the United States from the aggressive expansion of China into the South Pacific.”

He noted that China is entering into bilateral agreements with Pacific nations with promises of security, infrastructure, and economic and cultural aid. “Our neighbor, the Independent State of Samoa, recently signed a bilateral agreement with China and this joins other Pacific nations that have also entered into agreements with China,” Lemanu said and referenced a news report by international news agency, Reuters on May 28.

The governor declared that American Samoa serves as a gateway to all Pacific nations for the strategic development of U.S. security and economic opportunities. And expansion of the PRIMNM “would have unintended consequences on the economic lifeline of American Samoa that is dependent on the tuna industry and the support of the U.S. fishing fleet.”

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The governor explained that the tuna industry is the largest private sector employer in American Samoa, supporting jobs for nearly a third of the territory’s workforce. “We have a relatively small locally based tuna purse seiner fleet that supplies the majority of the raw material needs of our local cannery,” he said.

And that these vessels are also bound by U.S. laws and standards to ensure minimal adverse effects on the environment standards that exceed foreign and international requirements.

 Biden was informed that Pacific Remote Island Areas have been traditional fishing grounds for the U.S. fleet that supply the local cannery even before the establishment of the PRIMNM, a several years ago.

Lemanu argued that proposed expansion of the PRIMNM from 50 miles to 200 miles would have a devastating negative impact on the U.S. fleet. And this would be especially hard on American Samoa.

“I implore your consideration to keep these U.S. waters open to commercial fishing for the U.S. fleet so our tuna industry that supports our fragile economy can continue to be sustained,” the governor wrote to Biden.

“Without a sustainable fish supply, our local tuna industry will collapse and our economy soon will follow. This would lead to an economic catastrophe that no U.S. state or territory has experienced in recent times,” he pointed out.

Lemanu argued that there is no scientific evidence to support the notion that large-scale closures in “blue water” open ocean ecosystems — such as the proposed expansion area of the PRIMNM — have any impact on the sustainability of highly migratory species like tuna, or are effective for protecting biodiversity in these dynamic ecosystems, or can mitigate stressors such as climate change.

“On the contrary, the result of large, static area closures is a transfer of fishing effort from one place to another, oftentimes at the expense of conservation. Instead of fishing in U.S. waters where they have privileged access, these U.S.-flagged vessels will have to fish elsewhere, likely further away from American Samoa, thereby increasing their costs,” he said.

“This situation also exacerbates the “uneven playing field” our fleet and fishing industry face while competing with heavily-subsidized fishing industries such as China’s in waters that are already heavily fished,” Lemanu pointed out.

He also informed Biden of American Samoa’s dependency on the U.S for financial assistance to support infrastructure, harbors, airports, the hospital, and schools. “If our tuna industry collapses, American Samoa will become more dependent on U.S. financial aid,” he said.

EQUITY

“Any adverse impact to the American Samoa tuna industry will result in job losses and other residual effects that will further increase the poverty level of what is already by far the poorest territory or state in the U.S. and perpetuate inequities for years to come,” the governor emphasized to Biden.

Furthermore, the U.S. Pacific Island community should not carry the full conservation burden of the country under the “America the Beautiful” initiative outlined in the President’s Executive Order 14008.

Lemanu recalled that proposal for expansion of the PRIMNM states it will ensure over 30% of the conservation goal under “America the Beautiful.”

However, he pointed out that this would be counter to Section 219 of Executive Order “on securing an equitable future for the underserved American Samoa community”.

And it would also run counter to the President’s Executive Order 13985, which makes it the policy of Biden administration to “pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all... including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.”

Lemanu declared that: “The people of American Samoa fall under these categories of underserved and historically disadvantaged communities as approximately 57% of our population lives in poverty.

CONCLUSION

“Respectfully, I seek your assistance to ensure that the economic viability of American Samoa is protected. I respectfully request that you reject further expansion of the PRIMNM. Alternatively, we ask that a scientific study be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the expansion,” Lemanu wrote to Biden.

“We invite you or your representative to visit these islands, so you might understand what losing the cannery would do to the territory. Please help us sustain and protect our delicate, fishing-based economy by denying the proposed expansion of the PRIMNM,” he concluded.

The governor’s letter is copied to the U.S. Secretary of Interior and other DOI officials, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, U.S Department of State official, Fono leaders, and others.