Nineteen local seafood vendors took part in the 2nd Seafood Vendors’ Forum held last week at Toa Bar and Grill in Nuuuli and co-hosted by the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR), and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery and Management Council (WPRFMC).

Under local laws, seafood dealers can be fined if they fail to turn in commercial fish and shellfish receipts to the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. That is why local vendors, or their representatives, were invited to the Forum, to discuss valuable information collected on those receipts.

The law says that “every seafood dealer shall make a legible record in the form of a receipt, in triplicate, on forms to be furnished by the department (DMWR).”

The receipts must show the weight and number of each species of fish received, the name of the fisherman providing the fish or shellfish, the name and registration number of the vessel  (if applicable), the dealer’s name, the date of receipt, the price paid per species, and the type of fishing gear used. In addition, which shellfish were taken within and outside territorial waters, and other statistical information as the department may require.

The law also requires licensed wholesale fish dealers to report to the department on the 5th day of the month, the total amount of fresh fish and shellfish (in pounds) purchased, received, or taken. 

Currently, there are 49 vendors registered under the DMWR’s Commercial Landing Systems fish receipt (data collection) program. This is an increase from the initial count of 41 earlier this year in February.

(Under local law, a ‘dealer’ is defined as “any person or business entity engaged in the business of buying, canning, curing, or preserving fish or shell fish; or manufacturing meal, oil, flour, protein concentrate, animal food or fertilizer from fish or shellfish”).

During her opening remarks at the Forum, DMWR Director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga stressed to the vendors the importance of their role in managing the territory’s fisheries. “We are the stewards of fisheries in American Samoa,” she said, adding that the fish data that is collected helps DMWR and the leaders of the Territory manage our local fishery, and if there are fish species that are being depleted and over harvested, there should be steps taken to protect them .

According to her, this is one of the reasons why DMWR’s fish regulations are so important, and the collection of fish data each month plays a critical role in raising awareness amongst local vendors, and they are encouraged to enroll in the program.

“Each one of you plays a huge role in protecting our only natural resource in American Samoa,” the DMWR director told those in attendance before thanking them for their diligence, cooperation and most of all, for showing up.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery and Management Council (WPRFMC) contracted Mac Aveina under the Territorial Science Initiative (TSI) program to work with fish dealers— the seafood vendors— and to raise awareness about acquiring fish receipts for stores, restaurants, and local fast food businesses that sell fresh fish – whether it be reef, bottom, or pelagic species.

“My scope of work is to establish working relationships with seafood vendors, provide technical and logistical support in training seafood vendors to fill out the fish receipt books, which are mandated by law (seafood vendors must participate in the fish data collection), and enroll them under the department’s fish receipt system,” Aveina explained.

His powerpoint presentation included raw data (summaries) of activities dating back as far as two years, including fish species, pounds, cash value, and price per pound.

Besides Aveina and Matagi-Tofiga, employees of the DMWR’s Enforcement Division, along with Chief Enforcement Officer Peter Eaves were also present to field questions or concerns raised by the seafood vendors.

The event concluded with giveaways that included printed t-shirts, and raffle prizes, featuring large coolers from Cost U Less and ACE, rods and reels, fishing poles, throw nets, diving flashlights, fillet knives, frying pans, and ACE gift certificates. 

FISH REGULATIONS

Under the DMWR’s fish regulations—established May 25, 1990—all fish dealers (seafood vendors) are required to keep accurate records to be submitted to the DMWR who provide triplicate receipt books for use by the vendors.

Aveina is to collaborate with the DMWR personnel and the Enforcement Division, to ensure that all fish dealers are in compliance with the American Samoa Government’s fish regulation. The DMWR’s Enforcement Division is the arm of the department that enforces ASG fish regulations.

When asked if there are fines imposed on non-compliant fish dealers, Aveina replied, “I do not know the fines that are given out.”

According to section 24.0310 of the ASCA, “the Director and such department employees as the Director designates shall have the authority to issue citations, collect fines, impound vessels and equipment, and make arrests for violations.”

In addition, “persons arrested shall be taken before the next sitting of the District Court, if either the person demands an immediate appearance in court or the person refuses to sign the citation to give his written promise to appear in court as required by law or regulation.”

Furthermore, “Upon sworn information from witnesses or department employees, the District Court Judge shall issue process for arrest of any person charged with violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulations issued hereunder.”

One issue that was discussed during the Forum is confidentiality.

Vendors were reminded that “receipts, reports, or other records filed with the department and the information contained therein, shall be confidential, and the records shall not be public records, and the information contained in the records shall be compiled or published as summaries, so as not to disclose the individual record or business of any person.”

In 2013, the total count of reporting vendors was 33.

However, between January and July 2014, the number had dropped significantly to 18.

But from August 2014 to February 2015, the total count had doubled to 36.

So far this year, a total of five new vendors have signed on,  three within the last month alone. The total count of reporting vendors stood at 41 earlier this year in February but as of July 23, that number had increased to 49.