Manu’a rejects WESTPAC move to lift fishing restrictions around Muliava

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 14, 2025, a team led by Manu’a District Governor Pete Poumele, Manu'a Chiefs, and a community group, requested the assistance of the House Marine Wildlife & Fisheries Committee, to reject Western Pacific Fisheries Counsel’s (WESTPAC) decision to remove fishing restrictions around their sacred land and ocean around Muliava, according to Su'a Alexander Eli Jennings, the Swains Island faipule, in an email sent out to the territory’s news outlets. 

He continued, they also solicited the assistance of Mr. Brian Peck, recently retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Manager of Rose Atoll Marine National Monument for the last 10 years.

Su’a stated that “the Manu’a delegation felt deceived by WESTPAC’s Advisory Panel conducting what was understood by many to be a 2-hour workshop in Manu’a, on November 12 &13, 2025.”

However, he said, after the workshop, the Panel quickly rushed through the Council's decision to lift fishing restrictions around Muliava (Rose Atoll Marine National Monument - RAMNM) towards the end of their 2-hour meeting.  “No attempt was made to notify Samoan Affairs on the matter.”

Public comments on the Council’s decision were extended to Monday, December 15, 2025 at 5 p.m. local time, with a recommendation on Muliava to be made by WESTPAC at their Virtual meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday — December 16 and 17, 2025.

Online: https://tinyurl.com/205CouncilMtg, Event password: CM205mtg

Get the full agenda & documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/205th-council-meeting-virtual-2

BACKGROUND

According to Su’a, on Tuesday December 2, 2025, he was invited on behalf of the Committee, to attend a meeting of the Manu’a group with Governor Pulaali’i Nikolau Pula. In the meeting it was revealed that the Governor had already issued a letter of support for the WESTPAC proposal to lift fishing restriction at Muliava, to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, on August 21, 2025. 

“He was alarmed by the Manu’a District Governor and his team’s visit, thinking that the leaders and people of Manu’a were aware and supportive of the Counsel’s proposal, before sending his letter to Secretary Lutnick. 

“He assured the group that if this is not the case, and the traditional leaders and people of Manu’a were not properly informed or in support of this proposal, he is willing to reconsider and rescind his letter of support.

House Marine Wildlife Hearings of the Committee as the whole (Komiti Aoao):

 With the support of House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale and Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui Jr., the Marine Wildlife Committee as the whole (Komiti Aoao) immediately held hearings, given the urgency of this matter. 

 Committee Hearing Thursday, Dec. 4:

Present: Vice Speaker Fetui Jr., Hon. Sunia, Hon. Ho Ching, Hon. Sai, Hon. Ape, and Hon. Su’a.

Witnesses were:  District Governor Poumele, Motusa, Vesi, Rev. Tili and Brian Peck.

Su’a said during the Committee hearing it was explained that the leaders and people of Manu’a feel deeply deceived by the process.

“Witnesses testified that they were never properly consulted or invited to hear a full explanation of Executive Order 14276, nor were they given an opportunity to present their ancestral, cultural, and spiritual responsibilities to protect Muliava — responsibilities passed down through generations.

The Manu’a District Governor emphasized that this is not merely a Manu’a issue, but one that affects all of American Samoa and our collective obligation to protect our land, ocean, and culture under the Deeds of Cession with the United States.

Committee Hearing Tuesday Dec. 9:

Present:  Vice Speaker Fetui Jr., Hon. Saelua, Hon. Sunia, Hon. Sai, Hon. Ape, Hon. Mel Gurr and Hon. Su’a.

Witness: Taulepapa Willie Sword, WESTPAC Chairman, American Samoa representative.

In the hearing, according to Su’a, the WESTPAC Chairman defended the decision based solely on scientific and economic arguments tied to longline fishing and the tuna industry,

“These same arguments were used in 2016 to reduce fishing protections around Tutuila, Manu’a, and Swains Island, again without adequate consideration of traditional, cultural, and Indigenous rights.”

 He noted that “it is also concerning that American Samoa has the largest local representation on the Council — three voting members and eight advisory affiliates — yet we are not recognized as the only U.S. territory with a unique political and cultural relationship defined by the Deeds of Cession.

“That relationship obligates the United States, including the Council, to respect and protect Samoan traditional ties to land and ocean, not diminish them through procedural shortcuts.” 

 Unanimous Consent of the Committee: 

At the conclusion of the two hearings, Su’a explained that the Committee by unanimous consent requested a House Joint Resolution to support the request of the Manu’a delegation in rejecting the WPAC’s decision to lift fishing restrictions at Muliava.

On Thursday Dec. 11, 2025 it was determined at a meeting of the House Speaker and Counsel Nat Savali that it was too late for a HJR, but a letter to be signed by the House Speaker and the Senate President should suffice. 

The letter is currently being drafted.

The Swains Island faipule concluded that he greatly appreciated “the support of the Speaker and Vice Speaker on this matter, especially the Honorable Representatives that were able to be part of these efforts in these most difficult holiday times.”