Tag Archives: American Samoa

Groups sue feds over Pacific bigeye fishing rule

earthjustice $upereco-manThe complaint says the rule invents separate catch limits for American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The lawsuit says each U.S. territory can then allocate half of its catch limit to Hawaii-based longline fishing vessels. Read  the rest here 17:01

Professional Environmental Litigation Hitmen oppose ahi increases in Western Pacific- To Sue NMFS AGAIN!

Hawaii’s longline fleet may be rejoicing over a new opportunity to catch ahi, under a new agreement that allows them access to quota from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and Guam. Earthjustice is examining legal options and is likely to take The National Marine Fisheries Service to court for approving the rule change, Henkin said. Read the rest here 17:38

Pacific fishing interests oppose Obama’s plan to expand marine reserve – I mean, What the Hell is an Extra 700,000 Square Miles anyway?!!!

“Fishing for tunas mean there are fewer tunas,” Norse said in an interview, adding that the millions of seabirds that nest and forage in the area depend on the area’s tuna population. “We would like there to be more tunas in this ecosystem, because they play an important role in that ecosystem.” Must be seabirds eat tuna!  Read more here 16:51

Fishery Scientists and Managers to Address Fishery Collapse in American Samoa, Overfishing in the Western Pacific Region

HONOLULU (17 June 2014) The American Samoa longline fishery is suffering from a potential economic collapse. In 2013, many vessels in the fishery operated at a loss as catches of South Pacific albacore were insufficient to cover operating costs. This and other issues,,, Read more here 21:00

American Samoa: Strong views about fishing rights

Utulei and Fagatogo resident Christina Lutu-Sanchez urged alia vessel owners and fishermen not to label owners and fishermen of longline vessels as “they” or people from “outside” because they are not. Tuala-uta resident Esther Fiatoa points out that the waters around American Samoa are not owned by the federal government but by the Samoan people.Read more, and two audios here  16:48

Longliners vs alia fishermen – Read more here

American Samoa DMWR Director reports on local issues

A crown of thorns or alamea outbreak and the removal of sea cucumbers were some of the issues the director of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources highlighted during her statement at the 31st US Coral Reef Task Force Meeting. DMWR Director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga is a member of the All Island Committee of the Task Force, which comprises American Samoa, CNMI, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Read more here talaneia.com  16:44

American Samoa government unsure about helping fishing sector

PAGOPAGO, American Samoa — American Samoa’s Governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga, says he is sympathetic and wants to help local fishing vessels but he says the canneries are the government’s main focus. Last week, for sale signs went up on longliner fishing boats anchored in the main dock and at the canneries. Read [email protected]  13:44

American Samoa Government Asked To Subsidize Longline Fleet, a significant contributor to the local economy

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Dec. 22, 2013) – On behalf of the ASG Shipyard Service Authority board, chairman David Robinson recently proposed to the Governor’s Office a fuel subsidy or further reduction in fuel costs to help the American Samoa longline fleet, which is facing low prices received for their catches. READ [email protected]  17:59

American Samoa longline fleet to post all fishing vessels for sale as the future of this fishery or support for the fishery does not seem imminent.

Owners of longliners in the territory say they have made their concerns known to Governor Lolo Moliga since February of this year.  In a press release issued yesterday the boat owners said a consensus to tie up all of the American Samoa longline fleet was reached at a meeting between vessel owners last Thursday. Read [email protected]  23:56

American Samoa: Samoa PM says warming waters good for fisheries

The Samoan Prime Minister says warmer water caused by climate change is driving fish to its waters from the Western Pacific, which will benefit its fishing industry in the future. more@radionewzealand  07:20

August 17th is StarKist Samoa Day in American Samoa!

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has proclaimed August 17 as StarKist Samoa Day in honor of the cannery’s 50 years of service to American Samoa. In his proclamation, Lolo detailed the history of StarKist’s presence in the territory, from when it was a part of H.J. Heinz Company in 1963 to its acquisition by Del Monte Foods in 2002 to the time it was bought by Dongwon Industries in 2008. He said Starkist Samoa has become the single largest producing tuna cannery in the world. @talanei.com

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Address Overfishing (lots of info)

HONOLULU (28 June 2013) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council concluded its three-day meeting today [Friday]  in Honolulu on federally managed fisheries in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and other US Pacific Islands. continued@pacificnewscenter

American Samoa adamant shark protection is adequate

The US National Marine Fisheries Service had sought public comments following a petition by two NGO groups which claimed the sharks are threatened by fishing. continued@radionewzealand

American Samoa-based fishing vessel “Pacific Princess” rescued 2 fishermen surviving almost four weeks adrift

Pacific Princess skipper Alfred Canepa said he found the men after spotting what appeared to be a small flock of birds on his radar. “I went to go check on my boat and luckily I turned that way to check them and we found this small boat with two men adrift at sea, lost,” he said. continued

 

Mama’s Fish House is starting a new FAD making life easier for Maui’s fishermen ( a new series? Good Cook – Bad Cook?)

The Maui News – Yes, it’s true. The iconic 40-year-old Mama’s Fish House in Kuau is starting a new FAD. That is, “fishing aggregate device,” to assist local fishermen with an effective deep-sea helper. “We are funding a fishing buoy!” she continued. “There are so many reasons this is the right thing to do, including supporting the local fishermen on which our business relies.” continued

American Samoa – Listing of local corals as endangered still a worry, Fisheries Council deals with lack of dock space, Albacore fishing reaching maximum levels

Of the 66 coral species being proposed for listing, 46 occur in American Samoa. The listing is among issues being discussed by the Council this week. continue

Longline owners say they are without a home as they have to move around every time visiting boats arrive in port. Longline owner Carlos Sanchez also raised with the Council his concerns over what he called the “Chinese invasion” of Pacific fishery resources. continue

The overall catch is reaching maximum sustainable yield. continue

American Samoa – Center for Biological Diversity criticized

In addition to voicing objections against the NOAA Fisheries for the proposal to list American Samoa corals under the Endangered Species Act, residents also complained about the organization that initiated the listing. Read more here

American Samoa – Strong opposition to coral listing

More than 20 residents attended the meeting and the majority expressed concerns about the economic, social and cultural impact the listing would have on fishing activities in the territory. The opponents were even more disheartened after hearing that the ESA process does not take economic impacts into consideration in their review. The listing was prompted by the Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation group based in Arizona. Read more here, audio

US Commerce shortchanges’ American Samoa of monies that fishing companies pay for polluting territorial waters

At a meeting yesterday at the Tauese Ocean Center to inform district governors, county chiefs, and village mayors about the National Sanctuary of American Samoa, Alo expressed sadness that the territory is getting just a small portion of fines and citations levied against companies that harm our ocean. Read more here

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga wants fishing in research zone of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has asked the US Department of Commerce to allow bottom fishing in one of the two areas of Aunu’u that is now part of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. His request was made in a letter to Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank. Specifically, Lolo is requesting changes to the two areas of Aunu’u that’s now part of the sanctuary. Read more

Tri Marine American Samoa cannery set to open in 2014

Tri Marine has major activity underway in American Samoa with the large fleet of purse seiners operating here. The cannery is now expected to be up and running sometime in 2014. A crucial part of the cannery project is construction of a seawall and dock to the east of the plant.  Sullivan said up to now the US Army Corps of Engineers has still not issued a permit for the seawall and dock. Read more

NZ fishing company Sanford fined $2.3m – dumped oily waste in waters off American Samoa.

An Auckland-based commercial fishing company has been fined $1.9 million ($NZD2.3 million) after being found guilty in a US court of dumping oily waste in waters off American Samoa. Read more

Tuna cannery owner wants to boost region’s processing capacity AMERICAN SAMOA

The owner of the Samoa Tuna Processors cannery wants the territory to become the regional hub for fish processing to grow its business Tri Marine International, which owns the cannery, wishes to advance its plans by helping Pacific island countries take greater ownership of the fish harvested from their territorial waters. Managing director Joe Hamby said that unlike American Samoa, many Pacific island countries do not have the land mass, population or infrastructure to have boats unload fish on their land and implement fish processing. Therefore, American Samoa is a logical choice for a processing hub.

http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=10-2012&day=8&id=55931&l=e&country=0&special=&ndb=1&df=0