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Super Alia described as a dream… an expensive dream with no funding

[l-r] Commerce Department deputy director Uili Leauanae; DOC fishery development coordinator Tamatoa Tony Langkilde; and Marine and Wildlife Resources deputy director, Selaina Vaitautolu
Estimated price tag is upwards of $300K
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — While the design for the government’s “Alia Tele - Super Alia” was completed about two years ago, the Commerce Department is still trying to secure funding to start building the prototype model. Each super alia is estimated to cost some $350,000, which lawmakers argue is unaffordable for many local fishermen.

“We’re dreaming about something that we don’t have money” to build, said Sen. Magalei Logovi’i during a Senate Economic Development Committee hearing on Wednesday, where ASG officials were called to provide an update of the “super alia” touted by the Lolo Administration as a way to improve local fisheries and provide more jobs.

“We want a super alia but there’s no money to build it,” said Magalei who suggested to DOC deputy director Uili Leauanae and DOC fishery development coordinator Tamatoa Tony Langkilde to inquire with neighboring Samoa on their super alia sample as well as the cost — which could probably be lower — to assist DOC.

Tamatoa has been on KVZK-TV talking about the super alia, as part of the government’s promotion and a public awareness campaign, which was first launched April last year.

He also spoke with Samoa News last year, saying the “super alia is a new concept of this administration to change the way of local fishing from the small sized alia that we presently use….”

As previously reported by Samoa News, the design of the vessel has already been completed by Washington State boat builder Armstrong Brothers. The DOI Office of Insular Affairs awarded a grant of just over $60,000 for the design and promotion of the alia.

During the committee hearing, Tamatoa along with Leauanae both spoke at length on the background of the super alia and its importance; and that DOC is now working on securing funds to build the first vessel, the prototype model (how all super alia will be built), which will be used to train local fishermen wanting to own such a vessel.

Funding sources DOC is looking at include a $485,000 grant from the US Economic Development Administration, which American Samoa needs to expend or otherwise lose. The USEDA grant is valid for one year and DOC requests and receives approval to keep it extended before each year is up.

The estimated cost for the super alia is between $300,000 and $400,000 and DOC is working with the Development Bank of American Samoa for possible amendments to the Revolving Loan Program, allowing local fishermen who want to built/ buy the super alia to get a loan.

Tamatoa emphasized a few times to the committee that the new 40-foot super alia can go out fishing for 3-7 days, it’s safe, it can go 400 miles out to sea, and can accommodate up to 4 fishermen.  Additionally, it’s a multi-purpose fishing boat — meaning it can be used for longline fishing and bottom-fish fishing.

He also stressed several times, that the super alia is safer and more economic for fishermen. He then distributed to the committee, printed colored brochures touting ASG’s “Smart Technology” — the “Alia Tele - Super Alia, Future Commercial Fishing Vessel.” The brochure summarizes the major aspects of the new vessel, and notes that the “Alia Tele” design and marketing is funded by DOI/ OIA.

(Some senators later in the hearing joked among themselves that if they don’t see the actual super alia built, at least they have the pictures from the brochure to look at or hang on their walls at home.)

Despite Tamatoa’s eloquent testimony and explanation, the committee wanted answers to two main questions: when the new alia will be built, and when they will be able to actually see the boat.

“Right now, we need to see the boat being built,” Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean told the DOC officials, who reiterated that they are looking for federal grants and one possible source is the USEDA, with an application to be submitted in a few weeks.

“So this is just a dream” for the government, said Sen. Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga.

Leauanae explained that any person, including fishermen, who have the money can starting building the super alia, since the design is already completed.

With a cost of $300,000+ for each boat, several senators argued that it would be a waste of time to even build the prototype if people cannot afford the price tag.

Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie said it would be disappointing to see the alia built but no one wants it due to the cost.

The committee wanted to know when DOC will get funding to build the first boat, and Tamatoa gave a time frame of later this year or early next year.

Sen. Tuaolo, who chaired the hearing, pressed for a firm answer, and Tamatoa responded, “we’ll working hard towards” getting the funding.

The committee was informed that DOC director, Keniseli Lafele wasn’t able to attend the hearing because he was on medical leave.

Also at the hearing was Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources deputy director, Selaina Vaitautolu, who sat in for the DMWR director, who wasn’t able to attend the hearing. There were no questions for DMWR, who were part of the super alia planning from the early stages in 2015.