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STP cannery closure prompts fisheries gifts to Samoa, Tokelau

Tri Marine's closure of Samoa Tuna Processors means a windfall for neighbouring Samoa and Tokelau. [photo: SO via Asia-Pacific Report]

After the closure of one of its tuna canneries, American Samoa is looking to recover by giving away tonnes of the fish to its neighbours, a move welcomed by Tokelau.

In December, tuna supply group Tri Marine indefinitely closed its Samoa Tuna Processors plant based in Pago Pago after supply and profit issues.

While the fate of Samoa Tuna Processors remains uncertain, American Samoa is now sending its excess tuna to the governments of Tokelau and Samoa.

Earlier this month both neighbours were gifted more than 11 tonnes of tuna each in Tokelau’s case, enough to match two years worth of its tuna imports.

American Samoa Department of Commerce Director Keniseli Lafaele said there were plans to extend this offer to Tuvalu and Kiribati as well.

The main idea behind it, said Lafaele, was to establish economic relations and improved access to the fisheries of the wider Pacific.

“We would like to explore the possibility of exporting goods from American Samoa to the neighbouring countries.” 

Mutually beneficial

This could be mutually beneficial for Tokelau, a country heavily reliant on both imported goods and income made through selling fishing licences to foreign nations, said Lafaele. 

Despite its population of roughly 1500 people, Tokelau netted US$13.5m in 2016 alone from the licensing of its 320,000 sq km exclusive economic zone.

Seiuli Aleta, Acting General Manager of the Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, said American Samoa’s gift was a sign of the growing relationship between the two countries.

Stan Crothers, a fisheries adviser to Tokelau, said Tokelau was working closely with Tri Marine leading up to the closure of its processing plant in Pago Pago.

“On the American Samoan side you’ve got the capital and the plants, we’ve got the fish, there’s a deal made in heaven there somewhere isn’t there?”

Read more at Asia-Pacific Report