StarKist has told the American Samoa longline fleet that while they understand the reasons local boats are not out fishing, they too are facing difficulties in trying to stay on top of global demand. Read moreCategory Archives: Western Pacific
Samoa Tuna Processors still waiting for permit
The US Army Corps of Engineers has still not issued a permit for construction of a dock and seawall at the Samoa Tuna Processors plant. 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
A group of Hawaii fishermen want humpback whales off endangered list
Hawaii Fishermen’s Alliance for Conservation and Tradition Inc., a coalition of fishing clubs and groups from across the islands, filed a petition to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last month. There are more than 21,000 humpback whales in the North Pacific today, compared with about 1,400 in the mid-1960s. continued
Tepco Faces Decision to Dump Fukushima atomic station Radioactive Water in Pacific
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501)’s discovery of leaks in water storage pits at the wrecked Fukushima atomic station raises the risk the utility will be forced to dump radioactive water in the Pacific Ocean. Pacific bluefin tuna caught off San Diego in August 2011 was found to contain radioactive cesium 10 times higher than fish seized in previous years, researchers including Daniel Madigan and Nicholas Fisher said last May. The radiation levels, which the group said don’t pose a danger to public health, are expected to decline over time, they said in a study at the time. continued
Call me Crazy, (I can take it) but does this action set a presidence? American Samoa – Stopping spread of crown of thorns is to kill it
A joint effort by three government agencies has so far killed close to 1,000 crown-of-thorn starfish but thousands more are still threatening the territory’s corals. continued My comment in the comment section.
National Marine Fisheries Service expanding dolphin-safe tuna certification requirements
When the World Trade Organization found last year that U.S. labeling requirements for dolphin-safe tuna put Mexican tuna fishermen at a trade disadvantage, marine advocates worried that the federal government would weaken its dolph
in-safe standards. Instead, a proposed rule published Friday by the National Marine Fisheries Service would expand the certification requirements. continued
A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 04/05/2013
NOAA’s Fisheries Service Seeks Comments on Proposal to List Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks under Endangered Species Act
WASHINGTON, April 4 — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news release: NOAA’s Fisheries Service, in response to a petition submitted by the WildEarth Guardians and Friends of Animals is proposing to list four populations of scalloped hammerhead sharks under the Endangered Species Act, two as threatened and two as endangered. continued
Scientists to investigate coral crisis on Kauai’s north shore
“The disease is a tissue-loss disease,” said USGS Wildlife Disease Specialist Thierry Work. “If you look at these corals, they are losing tissues and we think it’s associated with a cyanobacteria, which is a type of algae that is eating the coral basically.” “You are going to start to lose your fisheries and not to mention the tourist issue here,” Abey said. “Economically, it is critical for the state of Hawaii to maintain the coral reef resources in a healthy state.” 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
WPFMC: “Tuna Catch Reaching Maximum Sustainable Yield”
American Samoa – The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Friday concluded its three-day meeting at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium (Fale Laumei) in American Samoa with recommendations for the management of federally regulated fisheries in the US Pacific Islands. continue
District Governors want sanctuary expansion reversed
Traditional leaders urged the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council to help reverse the expansion of what is now known as the American Samoa National Marine Sanctuary. Referring to Mulia-va (Rose Atoll), Manu’a District Governor Misaalefuaasked, How would anyone feel, if some one else tells you that you cannot go anymore to a place you owned for over 3,000 years? continue
Territory dedicates WPFMC funded projects – Fisheries Council welcomed with ava ceremony
The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council dedicated on Friday and Saturday several projects that were funded by the Council for the benefit of local fishermen. continued Local leaders today welcomed members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council with an ava ceremony at the Fale Tele at Suigaula o le Atuvasa. continued
American Samoa hosts the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council March 11-14, 2013
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene its 156th meeting next week at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium. Sam Rauch, NOAA Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, will be attending the meeting. The Scientific Statistical Committee, which advises the Council, says the “determination tool” used to indicate listing or not is flawed and recommends that the council suggests that the National Marine Fishery Services, which is reviewing the listing proposal, consider an alternative determination tool. Read more 156th Council Meeting March 11-14, 2013 Pago Pago, American Samoa. WPFMC info here
EXCLUSIVE: Man busted for trying to sell shark fins
It’s been almost two years since Hawaii’s shark fin ban went into effect. Friday afternoon, enforcement officers busted a man for trying to sell shark fins to a Chinese restaurant. The man was cited, and now faces a possible fine, and possible jail time. This is something you don’t see in Hawaii anymore. “In the duffle bag, there are 14 shark fins, and they appear to be fresh, not cured or dried,” said Guy Chang, DOCARE Oahu Branch Chief. Read more
StarKist commits to further investment in 50th year
StarKist, the parent company of StarKist Samoa, says as it celebrates 50 years of StarKist Samoa, it has a strong interest in continuing its commitment to the territory and this includes further investment in its local operations. Read more
A fisherman is dead from Western Pacific helicopter collision with purse seiner
A fisherman is dead and another injured following a helicopter crash into a fishing vessel in the western Pacific ocean on Sunday. The United States Embassy in Majuro confirmed that the incident involved both a US-flagged and a Taiwan-flagged purse seine fishing vessel. Read more
Longline hooking of false killer whale could close Hawaii’s fishing grounds
Hawaii’s longline fishing industry could take a hit this year after a 
was hooked in Hawaiian waters. Under a protection plan that took effect just last November, another fatal hooking will mean the loss of 17 percent of Hawaiian waters that can be used for fishing. Read more
Counting the tuna in the Pacific
Tuna are vital to the ecology and economy of the Pacific, and maintaining their stocks at a sustainable level exercises the minds of thousands of scientists, bureaucrats, fishers, consumers and conservationists. But just how do you go about counting such a wide-ranging fish? Read more
Coast Guard and Navy Rescue Guam Fisherman
Coast Guard and Navy search and rescue crews partnered to provide assistance to a local fisherman whose vessel began taking on water and quickly capsized 13 nautical miles off the coast of Guam, in the vicinity of Galvez Banks, south of Merizo. Read more
SSC: Scientists Recommend Management Options for South Pacific Albacore, False Killer Whales, Hawai`i Bottomfish
Honolulu – The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) that advises the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council concluded its three-day meeting Thursday in Honolulu. Read more
Tuna at tipping point
The drop follows similar plunges in the other two bluefin species, the Atlantic and the southern, which are now protected by catch quotas that experts say need to be applied to their Pacific cousins as well. Read more
Americam Samoa – Albacore fishery management under review Western Pacific Fishery Management Council
The American Samoa longline fishery is the second largest fishery in the US Pacific Islands. The fishery is based almost entirely on fishing for South Pacific albacore caught for the American Samoa canning industry, with only a small domestic market, and limited access to overseas markets. This South Pacific albacore is also important to the central South Pacific countries neighboring American Samoa, which also supply the American Samoa canning and fish processing industry.
Catches of South Pacific albacore by all fleets south of the equator have more than doubled in the past decade and are currently about 90 percent of maximum sustainable yield. This is due primarily to the doubling of vessels from China fishing under access agreements with the Solomon Islands and switching by Taiwanese longliners from targeting bigeye to albacore. Read more
American Samoa – DMWR moves on abandoned boats
The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources is on a mission to remove vessels which have been sitting idle at the docks for some time. The only response to the misfortune of the longliners? Audio, Read more
American Samoa – Marina off-limits to longliners
It seems there’s no end to the bad news hitting the American Samoa longline fleet. Today owners of commercial fishing vessels began moving their boats away from the marina after they were told they could no longer berth there. Read more
StarKist says it cant do anything about fish prices for the American Samoa longline fleet
StarKist has told the American Samoa longline fleet that while they understand the reasons local boats are not out fishing, they too are facing difficulties in trying to stay on top of global demand. Read moreLongline permits and alia fishing questions raised at Sanctuary meeting
Local businessman Omar Shalhout raised the issue regarding longline permits and alia fishing during a public meeting hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) and the Department of Commerce this past Monday, to discuss issues involving the expansion of the NMSAS. Read more here
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 – Local fising boat owners plead for help
Port charges, clearance requirements, and the drop in the price of albacore are being cited by local boat owners as the reason most of American Samoa longliner fleet are not out fishing. Most of the boats are tied up at the harbor; some haven’t gone out fishing in months. The situation has led to 9 boat owners writing to the governor for help for the survival of the American Samoa longliner fleet. Read more here
American Samoa – Strong opposition to coral listing
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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
