Editor’s Note: In a meeting yesterday at the Fale Samoa in Utulei, Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, who is also acting governor, supported the move by the Council Of Treaty Chiefs of Tutuila, Aunu’u, and Manu’a and the Council of District Governors of American Samoa, to oppose the three options being considered by the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council (WPRFMC) on the present 50-mile large vessel closure area (LVCA) around the fishing waters of American Samoa. (See Front Page story).

Senator Afoa L. Lutu, who is a long time supporter of longline fisheries, as well as a former owner of several longliners and alias, wrote the following letter to the WPRFMC in support of longliner access to fishing grounds inside the closure area, citing economic relief for the industry and the territory. (He forwarded it to media outlets for publication yesterday.)

Click on attachments to download pdf of letter and supporting documents.