Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This past week, officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) met with the Acting Governor Talauega E. V. Ale, Director of Marine and Wildlife, Taotasi Archie Soliai, and Commerce Acting Director Mike McDonald to discuss fishery issues.

The statement says that officials will continue to meet local stakeholders for the remainder of their visit.

“Kelly Kryc, Ph.D., is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries at NOAA, and has extensive public sector, academic, non-profit, and legislative experience in energy and environment policy.

“Prior to joining NOAA in September 2021, she had most recently served as senior fellow for energy and environment at the Center for American Progress, and as director of ocean policy at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

“Sarah Malloy is the Regional Administrator (Acting) for the Pacific Islands Regional Office.

“She oversees internal governance, with a focus on enhancing employee engagement and ensuring organizational excellence through staff development, strategic operations planning, and leadership improvement.”

The statement says that she is a graduate of Georgetown University and Princeton University, where she studied economics and public policy.

“Director Taotasi briefed NOAA officials on key fisheries issues such as a decline in U.S. flag purse seiners from 40 to 13 vessels.

Acting Governor Talauega expressed his appreciation to Ms. Kelly and Ms. Malloy for supporting American Samoa and its efforts to preserve the American Samoa US flagged purse seiner fleet.