Tri Marine cannery plant. (Photo: Tuna Seiners)

Tri Marine stops tuna cannery production

Washington-based Tri Marine decided to end production indefinitely at its Samoa Tuna Processors cannery plant  from December due to economic difficulties.

The company, whose 800 employees working at the American Samoa plant are paid minimum wage, did not specify how many of them will be affected, Associated Press reported.

"The challenging economics of canning tuna in American Samoa combined with external factors facing STP make Tri Marine’s private-label focused business model for operating the plant economically unsustainable," the company said in a statement.

For her part, Tri Marine spokesperson Heidi Happonen, who informed the workers about the issue, said it is difficult to predict the future for the company, given the factors outside its control, such as the cost and abundance of tuna raw material, changes in free trade agreements, access to fishing grounds, the appeal of US-produced canned tuna in the market and demand for higher quality, sustainable and traceable tuna products, Radio New Zealand informed.

Meanwhile, the firm’s executives explained they are considering alternatives for the plant, including an outright sale.

"This is an incredibly difficult decision and one we make with a great deal of reluctance," said Tri Marine Chief Executive Officer Renato Curto in a statement.

"Our hearts go out to STP's employees, suppliers, service providers and everyone else who depends on STP's operations," he pointed out.

From American Samoa governor's office it was informed that Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga met with Tri Marine chief operation officer Joe Hamby, who informed the governor that the "global unfavorable economic environment for the fishing industry and changing dynamics of its business prompted the decision."

In addition to the cannery, Tri Marine's Samoa Tuna Processor Inc., was able to receive fish directly from the fishing boats.

"Though we are suspending canning operations, Tri Marine will continue to operate STP as a logistics hub for the Tri Marine Group. Unfortunately, this will mean a much reduced labor force," Curto clarified.

Referring to the announced closure, American Samoa delegate to the US House of Representative Aumua Amata Radewagen stressed that due to a complex series of factors, including a long history of poorly thought out and misguided government policies, they find themselves at a crossroads.

"It was my top priority during my first term in Congress to begin reversing those policies, and I will continue that mission in the hopes that the island's remaining cannery can prosper," she said.
 

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