WestPac leading U.S. fisheries interests in Pacific; calls for task force

Honolulu, HAWAII — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council with representatives from U.S. tuna industries, developed a paper that calls for a task force of federal agencies to work together to implement a new Pacific strategy. The paper’s holistic approach addresses greater U.S. trade and national security interests and how they are tied to the prosperity of U.S. tuna fisheries in the Pacific.

The Council endorsed the new Pacific strategy and recommended the U.S. delegations to coordinate with longline and purse seine fishing industries to implement it. Coordination efforts should lead toward an increase in the Hawai‘i longline fishery’s bigeye tuna quota and enhance opportunities for the American Samoa longline and purse seine fisheries. The U.S. government should ensure U.S. Pacific Island Territories take an active role in developing and implementing these objectives.

In American Samoa, StarKist cannery is the largest private employer. Will Sword, Council vice chair for American Samoa, noted the Council’s Pacific strategy is just what is needed. “It’s imperative to get the U.S. government and state and territory governments working closely with other Pacific Islands to implement a strategy that meets our goals,” said Sword.

“The current playing field is not level for American Samoa because our purse seine fleet is not seeing the benefits that we deserve as a territory” added Archie Soliai, Council chair from American Samoa. “The United States should take seriously the needs of its territories and this plan will help to move this forward.”

The Council recommended a letter be sent to the State Department and NOAA expressing concerns regarding the lack of acknowledgement of American Samoa’s rights afforded to small island developing States. They are entitled to special provisions to prevent “disproportionate burdens” from conservation action.

  The Council also recommended a letter be sent to the Biden Administration in response to its request for comment on development of its Indo-Pacific Strategy. The letter should reinforce the importance of fisheries to the Pacific Islands and the uniqueness of the Pacific Islands to the Indo-Pacific.