Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Director of the Dept. of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Taotasi Archie Soliai has appealed to the U.S Coast Guard to consider waiving U.S Masters certification requirements for operators of U.S longline vessels permitted exclusively out of American Samoa.

The request was made in his capacity as chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. The letter dated December 21, 2022 was also signed by Kitty Simmonds the council’s executive director, and addressed to Rear Admiral Mike Day, Commander 14th US Coast Guard.

According to the letter, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council at its 193rd meeting held earlier this month, made several recommendations regarding American Samoa fisheries.

 “The Council asks that the U.S. Coast Guard consider providing a waiver on requirements for a U.S. Masters certification for operators of American Samoa longline vessels.”

The Council cited that the requirement for a U.S Masters certification on U.S longline vessels permitted out of American Samoa presents some unnecessary barriers to the local American Samoa fishery for several reasons.

 “First, obtaining a U.S Masters certificate requires a valid U.S passport. Many potentially qualified operators either do not have U.S passports or may not be eligible for U.S passports.

 “This limits the pool of potential U.S Masters certifications. Second, a U.S Masters certification requires a federally-approved drug test, which is not available in American Samoa and would require expensive travel to the continental U.S.”

The director said the Masters certification requires an expensive course (relative to local incomes), which should be available with more frequency in American Samoa.

 “American Samoa is an underserved community with over half its population below the U.S poverty line.

 “For the aforementioned reasons, we ask that the U.S Coast Guard consider waiving U.S Masters certification requirements for U.S longline vessels permitted exclusively out of American Samoa.

 “Please consider this request to reduce burdens on American Samoa.”

Copied on the letter were Frederick Tucher, Pacific Islands Section Chief; NOAA Office of General Counsel Sarah Malloy; Regional Administrator, Pacific Islands Regional Office LCDR Jessica McCollum; U.S. Coast Guard l4th District; Krista Corry, President of Tautai o Samoa Longline and Fishing Association; and William Sword, Council Member.

Editor’s note: The reasoning behind this request leaves many unanswered questions, including, does a U.S National passport qualify in the U.S Masters requirements and is this proposal to benefit captains who hold passports from other countries?