Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has requested that the Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council reverse an earlier recommendation to allow longliners — of more than 50 feet — to fish in American Samoa’s protected Large Vessel Prohibited Areas (LVPA), which has been reserved for local alia fishing fleet for more than a decade.

During its March meeting in Honolulu, the Council approved the LVPA amendment which would allow longliners to fish seaward of 12 nautical miles, with a provision that the measure be reviewed annually. The measure is subject to approval by the U.S. Commerce Secretary.  The vote came with opposition from the governor as well as American Samoa’s members on the Council— all calling for the vote to be postponed until more local voices could be heard.  The Council had argued—among other things —that the vote on this issue had been postponed before.

Lolo is now urging the Council to reverse its recommendation.

In a June 11 letter addressed to Council members and executive director Kitty Simonds, the governor said the LVPA was created in 2002 to prevent gear conflicts and catch competition, as well as to prevent the demise of local fishermen, and thus help to preserve Samoan culture.

However, the governor fears that the amendment, rather than solving these still existing issues, will exacerbate the situation. Furthermore, economic barriers of entry are already a problem for small alias and the presence of large longline vessels will only decrease any incentive to rejoin a more crowded fishery.

“We also believe that there is data, including boat and catch numbers, which has not yet been presented, that would help to further enlighten the Council,” he wrote, adding that after reviewing the draft of the amendment, “we are deeply troubled and saddened that the preservation of Samoan culture and fishing by local indigenous Samoans were not more thoroughly addressed”.

“While economic factors are important, they should not be the sole reason for any amendment to the LVPA,” he said.

The governor also informed the Council that American Samoa has been afforded unique privileges because of its special relationship with the U.S. “The preservation of Samoan culture is a central reason for this,” he noted.

He reminded the Council that under the Tutuila Deed of Cession, the United States promised to “respect and protect the individual rights of all people dwelling on Tutuila to their lands and other property”.

And similar under the Manu’a Deed, the U.S. promised that “the rights of the Chiefs in each village and of all people concerning their property, according to their customs, shall be recognized.”

“Our culture is intimately intertwined with our land and waters. In order to maintain the integrity of our culture the United States has granted our territory some deference with regards to our lands,” Lolo said.

However, he said, it’s unfortunate that the same deference in the “local management of our waters has not been granted in recent years”.

“Amending the LVPA does not protect our resources or culture. This goes against the spirit and principles of the Deeds of Cession,” he said.

Lolo also said that in the past the Council has expressed its desire to shift its management approach to a more ecosystem-based style in which loca, community based management approaches are vital.

“If that sentiment remains, then we ask the Council to respect our ability and right to manage our waters. We ask the Council to help us protect our waters so that future generations may enjoy the richness of our culture,” he said and asked the Council “to reverse the recommendation” of the LVPA amendment to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Lolo also pointed out in his letter that in March this year both the local Senate and House passed a resolution opposing the proposed amendment to the LVPA. In the resolution, the governor says the Fono highlights the importance of the fishing area to American Samoa and the resolution cited the Pago Alia Fishing Association opposing changes to the LVPA.

Additionally, the Legislature emphasizes the protection promised by the Deeds of Session. “Throughout the resolution our elected leaders stress the need to help indigenous Samoan fisherman by keeping the LVPA at 50 nautical miles,” he said.

Lolo also included in his letter a copy of the resolution, but it was the one approved by the Fono in 2014, not the current legislative session, in which the Senate approved an identical resolution opposing the Council’s decision to amend the LVPA.  The Senate Joint Resolution is pending in the House.