Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds is criticizing the contradiction between NOAA’s proposed sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands, which claims to preserve cultural influences, while simultaneously abolishing fishing, and this holds significant importance within the culture of the U.S. territories affected by the proposed sanctuary.

In a press release issued Monday, July 3, the Council noted that Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata expressed her deep concern regarding the lack of consultation with the U.S. territories affected by the NOAA proposed sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands. In a video message during the Council meeting last Wednesday, Uifa’atali Amata stated her astonishment at the Administration's failure to meaningfully consult and engage with the U.S. Pacific territories. She criticized the sudden announcement of this potentially drastic change via a tweet by the President.

Despite the authority granted by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Congresswoman highlighted the Council's lack of involvement in the decision-making process. She emphasized that the Administration was pursuing the wrong policy and employing an inappropriate approach.

On June 23, the Council received the official sanctuary proposal, which requested the Council's assistance in formulating fishing regulations. Currently, commercial fishing is permitted between 50-200 miles in parts of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM). However, NOAA's first objective aims to extend the existing protections of the Monument to the entire U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ), thereby prohibiting commercial fishing by U.S. fishermen in U.S. waters.

Council members expressed their opposition to the proposed prohibition on commercial fishing. For more than 30 years, American Samoa-based purse seiners and Honolulu-based longliners operated in the waters of the Pacific Remote Islands Area until the establishment of the PRIMNM in 2006. This new action will force U.S. purse seiners to fish farther away from Pago Pago Harbor and transport their catch to Mexico and Ecuador instead of the StarKist Samoa cannery, which serves as the backbone of American Samoa's economy.

Taotasi Archie Soliai, Director of the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, stated that this federal action, coupled with NOAA's rule requiring 558 purse seine days to be fished within the U.S. EEZ, is "the nail in the coffin" to the tuna industry in American Samoa. Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga has also expressed objection to the proposed rule and has notified NOAA of the territory’s intention to file a lawsuit. 

Dr. Judi Guthertz, Guam Council member, strongly criticized the federal government for proposing the sanctuary despite the opposition from the people of American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI. "Shame on the federal government" admonished Guthertz as she urged the process to restart with consultation and consensus building, highlighting the vigilant attention being paid to the situation by the islands' fishermen, senators and leaders.

American Samoa Vice Chair Taulapapa William Sword expressed concern for the livelihoods of those working in the canneries, who rely on fishing to support their families. "Those cannery workers are poor and you want to take food off of their tables," said Taulapapa. He questioned the decision-making process, pointing out that advice is being taken from individuals who do not reside in American Samoa and will not be adversely affected by the proposed action.

Guam Council Vice Chair Manny Dueñas suggested the allocation of percentages for commercial, noncommercial and indigenous fishing, rather than a complete prohibition on fishing. Dueñas also raised questions about the true consideration of conserving resources asking, "Which generation is being prioritized, and is it for the people of the mainland or the Pacific?" 

Simonds criticized the contradiction between claiming to preserve cultural influences, while simultaneously abolishing fishing, which holds significant importance within the culture. "It’s obvious that the ocean belongs only to the federal government and not to its people, and we are merely spectators,” said Simonds.

The Council has until December 23 to respond to NOAA's proposal. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is expected to complete the process, including the Environmental Impact Statement, by August 2024, with implementation scheduled to occur before the upcoming elections.

The Council sent a comment letter to ONMS June 2, 2023, describing its objections to the proposed sanctuary. Download full text of the letter at our website: www.samoanews.com