Life jackets mandatory for palolo hunters, come next year

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Marine Patrol will be enforcing the law to the full extent on the water, meaning  palolo hunters are mandated to wear life jackets.

 “This appears to be an annual occurrence of people dying while palolo hunting, and to avoid loss of life, each and every one out in the open water must wear life jackets no exception.

If not they will be issued a citation and will be removed from the water,” said the director.

Palolo hunting this year left two men drowned at sea.

He said the issue at hand is the lack of resources. “The Marine Patrol has two boats and American Samoa waters are quite big and there is no way they can cover it all.

 “However we will put emphasis on awareness on the importance of wearing life jackets when out in the water, it’s mandated by law,” he said.

He said the Marine Patrol normally inspects around the popular areas such as the airport, Matuu/Faganeanea, Fagaalu and Utulei.