FIRST SUPPORTER OF TRI MARINE PETITION IS A LOCAL BOAT OWNER

Local longline boat owner Edgar Feliciano has come out in support of Tri Marine International’s petition to the U.S National Oceania Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for exemption of the U.S. flagged purse seiner fleet which delivers 50% of its catches to the local canneries, allowing them to fish in the US EEZ and on the high seas.

The specific fishing areas are now closed to fishing by the U.S. purse seiner fleet til the end of 2015.

In brief comments published by the federal portal, www.regulations.gov, Feliciano pointed out that American Samoa is heavily reliant on a consistent tuna supply for its canneries, “the main workforce supplier to an island with very limited resources for self-sustenance.”

“It is crucial to the well-being and survival of households who rely on paychecks for their livelihoods and to care for their families,” he said, adding that he supports the petition by Tri Marine, as it is one of the main entities committed to American Samoa as evident in its investment in the territory with the opening of a newly renovated processing plant, that has provided an influx of new jobs, and also its fleet, which currently contributes greatly to both the private and government sectors of the economy.

The processing plant referred to by Feliciano is Samoa Tuna Processors Inc., cannery, which just started at the beginning of this year and which already has almost 700 employees.

POLYNESIAN GETS ANOTHER 30-DAY APPROVAL FOR MANU’A FLIGHTS

The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted another 30-day cabotage exemption for the Samoa government owned Polynesian Airlines to operate American Samoa’s domestic flights to transport passengers, cargo and mail between Tutuila and the Manu’a islands.

The previous 30-day waiver expired yesterday (July 28) and the airline, in a July 14 letter — through its Washington D.C. attorneys — requested another extension, saying there is still no available U.S. carrier to provide air service between Tutuila and the Manu’a island group.

In approving the request on July 27, USDOT’s assistant secretary for aviation Susan L. Kurkland agreed that no U.S. carrier had an aircraft available for the Manu’a service and granting the authority would prevent unreasonable hardship to the residents of American Samoa.

The new cabotage waiver extension is effective today, July 29 to Aug. 27, and covers the Fitiuta Airport on Ta’u island with four flights a week, and Ofu Airport on Ofu island with one weekly flight.

Samoa News should point out that locally based start-up Tausani Airline, which is leasing an ASG aircraft for its service, is still going through certification to operate Manu’a air service, although the airline has conducted test flights and medical evacuations — free of charge. The airline also carried passengers this month for the Manu’a Cession Day, also free of charge.