potential, in response to statements by Delegate Eni Faleomavaega that negatively characterize Pago Pago-based tuna boats and question their commitment to deliver tuna to the canneries as an attempt to justify his proposed law now pending in Congress to give-away rights reserved to U.S.-built boats and American Samoa.
In his letter, USTOC Chairman, Joe Finete, commends American Samoa Gov. Togiola T.A. Tulafono, for his “constructive statement in the media raising concerns about legislation by the Delegate in Washington, D.C., which would negatively impact American Samoa’s tuna industry.”
Finete also expresses appreciation of Senate President Lolo M. Moliga and House Speaker Savali T. Ale, for “speaking out about serious substantive problems in the bill and the lack of consultation with the Islands’ leaders.”
Finete refers to the Governor’s Economic Advisory Council’s recent report of the potential for a ship repair and building industry, and points out the unique benefit of building tuna boats in American Samoa to qualify for certain fishing rights under law.
“A key attraction for investment in the Islands’ ship-building industry is that all tuna boats built in Pago may apply for a U.S. fishery endorsement and have the exclusive right to fish in the EEZs of the remote Pacific island areas,” Finete stated.
The chairman then raises the alarm of American Samoa’s potential loss of this valuable attraction for ship-building investment if Faleomavaega’s bill becomes law.
“Giving away U.S. fishery endorsements to foreign-built boats will nullify the most important investment incentive for the American Samoa ship-building industry,” he said.
The letter also raises concerns as to why Faleomavaega did not “discuss his plan and the harmful impact on our tuna fleet or the economy of the Territory we both call home.”
For some unknown reason, Faleomavaega introduced the legislation last September 2007 giving foreign-built boats the rights reserved under current law for U.S-built boats to fish in U.S. waters around the islands North of Samoa.
The bill was never considered in hearings or debated in a vote by the subcommittee or committee of jurisdiction; and had no co-sponsors when it was quietly inserted into a large U.S. Coast Guard funding bill that passed the House in April 2008.
The Coalition shares the concerns of many American Samoans that while the Pago Pago-based boats deliver virtually all of their catch to American Samoa’s canneries under contract and employ staff from the islands, none of the newly licensed foreign built boats have brought any tuna to the canneries, nor have they hired anyone from American Samoa or entered into contracts with the canneries.
“This established pattern is alarming as it demonstrates that under the Delegate’s bill there is no guarantee that foreign-built boats will deliver their catch to the canneries in Pago or employ any people from American Samoa, especially since they have contracts elsewhere and would be free to transship their fish to a mother ship and ignore our labor and environmental standards,” Finete stated.
Many of the Pago Pago-based boat-owners consider American Samoa as home, as they have relations that go back decades.
Finete urged the governor and island leaders to “oppose the Delegate’s give-away provision. The future of American Samoa’s tuna fishing industry, canneries, and economy depends on it.”
