4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States highlights their need for ‘special attention’

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In the news this week is the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) convening in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda from May 27 to May 30. The island nation of Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, who is also the representative body of 39 SIDS members in international sustainable development and climate change negotiations, is attending the world event; American Samoa is represented by the US at the conference, due to its status as an American territory.

In a media release from the Samoa government, Fiame is said to have called for the international community to keep the special circumstances of small islands at the fore of plans for sustainable development.

“In 1994 we set off on a noble path, agreeing that small islands and low-lying coastal developing states deserved special treatment,” she said. “We formed partnerships and enabled action. But it has not been enough. Often, we were too slow to act.

“The next ten years are critical for SIDS. We are advocating for a world where economic growth and well-being ought to be sustained and our economies are robust, diversified, adaptable and able to withstand shocks, ensuring social equity, and promoting environmental sustainability.”

She urged the international community to “recollect what occasions a category of countries as a special case for development; reaffirm that action costs little but inaction can cost much; and recommit to grand ideas where countries, small or large, rich or poor are all deserving.”

According to a Department of Interior press release, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland this week led the United States delegation to the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Throughout the conference and in meetings with counterparts and partners, Secretary Haaland and the delegation — which included senior officials and experts from across the Biden-Harris administration – underscored the United States government’s unwavering commitment to SIDS and to advancing their sustainable development for a resilient and prosperous future.

SIDS are disproportionately affected by the impacts of multiple global crises, including the climate impacts of sea-level rise and extreme weather events. The Conference serves as a critical opportunity for the United States to demonstrate its ongoing commitments to establishing the policies, systems and partnerships needed to strengthen SIDS’ resilience and promote their long-term sustainable growth.

Throughout the visit, Secretary Haaland met with international leaders from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the United Nations Secretary General to discuss efforts to tackle the climate crisis and support small island communities.

BACKGROUND

American Samoa has continued to lobby for recognition of its SIDS status in consideration of the US flag tuna boats that are based in Pago Pago and supply tuna to American Samoa’s cannery — most recently at the annual meeting of the Western and Central Fisheries Commission in Vietnam this year.

American Samoa was represented at the conference by the Director Taotasi Archie Soliai, who informed participants that “for some time, the U.S. flag purse seiner fleet grew in numbers as some operators choose the U.S flag to take advantage of the favorable terms of access afforded to them by the Tuna Treaty.

“Over time, that has changed and in recent years the number of U.S flag purse seiners serving the needs of our tuna dependent economy in American Samoa continues to decline to what has become a critically low level.

“Those boats left the U.S flag to take advantage of better terms of access, like the exemptions from the FAD [fish aggregating device] closure and to limits on the high seas for vessels that are either flagged or chartered to SIDS countries.

“And yet, these same considerations are not afforded to the American Samoa based fleet on which our economy urgently depends, even though the Convention itself makes clear that Participating Territories are to considered in the same light as other SIDS.

“If we continue to do nothing about this, we fear that this trend will continue and we will lose our tuna supply.

“Like many of our Pacific neighbors … American Samoa is a small island developing territory that is highly dependent on the tuna fishery that is managed by this Commission.”

Taotasi cited Article 30 of the Convention that clearly states, “... the Commission shall take into account the special requirements of developing States Parties, in particular small island developing States, and of territories and possessions.

“I echo the sentiments from the Honorable Ministers from Samoa and Niue on the responsibility that the Commission has towards SIDS countries and Participating Territories, and also echo their sentiments on South Pacific Albacore…

“I pray that you will have ears to hear what is for American Samoa, your Pacific Island brother, a most critical issue for our economic survival.”