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Tri-Marine CEO hopeful Tuna Treaty can be improved

Tri Marine International, whose local operations include the Samoa Tuna Processor Inc., cannery set to open next January, would like to see the South Pacific Tuna Treaty improved to allow fishing vessels based in American Samoa more access to the fishing grounds of Forum Fishery Agency’s 17 member countries.

 

The $90 million treaty was signed last month in Honolulu between the federal government and FFA members. One big concern for American Samoa and the two canneries is the reduction of fishing days and access to fishing grounds for U.S. vessels based in American Samoa.

 

“Tri Marine is very concerned with the impact the Treaty has on the island nations and the American Samoa community in particular and we are committed to working to find a solution to what is a very complex issue,” Tri Marine chief executive officer Joe Hamby said yesterday.

 

“In fact, we would like to see the Treaty improved so that the boats based in Pago Pago can continue to have access to their traditional fishing grounds,” he said. “This will take a willingness on the part of the US government with the American Tunaboat Association (ATA) and the Pacific Island parties to the Treaty to recognize that the Territory’s tuna industry depends on having fishing access to the EEZ’s around and nearby American Samoa.”

 

He said Tri Marine hopes that the discussions to be held in Apia — from Dec. 1-5 —during the 11th Regular Session of the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) “will improve the situation.”

 

Over the weekend Samoa News received unconfirmed reports that Tri Marine was planning on pulling out of the Treaty, due to among other things, the costs involved. Hamby called these reports “rumors”, saying that US flagged purse seiners fishing in the Treaty area are required by US law to have a Treaty license.

 

“If our boats were to decide not to participate to the Treaty, they would have to change flags or the law would have to change. It will be much easier just to fish under the Treaty,” he said in a media statement. “The cost of the Treaty is expensive considering that the area to be available for fishing under the Treaty is being dramatically reduced.”

 

He explained that the Tri Marine US flag purse seiners based in American Samoa belong to ATA, who along with the U.S State Department handled the Treaty negotiations with the Pacific Island countries.

 

He said ATA is responsible for the administration of the Treaty for the US boats. The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is responsible for administration of the Treaty for the Pacific Island countries that are parties to the Treaty.

 

FFA director general, James Movick will be in the territory this Friday as one of the regional officials invited to the ASG and canneries sponsored Tuna Industry Open House, which begins at 9a.m. with a welcoming ava ceremony at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

 

Others attending the Open House will include representatives from Samoa, Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, according to the list of guests. Also to be present is Kitty Simonds, the executive director of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.

 

Due to a family commitment, Hamby said he won’t be attending the Open House but two senior officials of Tri Marine will be on island. Hamby said he will attend next week’s WCPFC meeting in Samoa.