Can of tuna. A large part of the population of American Samoa depends on the tuna industry. (Photo: Stock File)

Kiribati's decision worries local and American tuna entrepreneurs

Kiribati's decision to reduce the fishing days in its waters could be devastating for the local community, according to Tuna industry leaders in American Samoa.

These tuna entrepreneurs’ concern has been raised due to the fact that during negotiations for the extension of the US Tuna Treaty, Kiribati offered just 300 of a total of 8,300 fishing days for 2015, ABC reported.

Kiribati's change in policy was a big disappointment to several tuna stakeholders in the Pacific Ocean.

"This decision by Kiribati to limit the number of fishing days available under the US treaty for these boats that are based in American Samoa or anywhere for that matter, it has a direct and immediate impact on the fishing community of American Samoa, where half of the population is working in the tuna industry," claimed Tri Marine tuna company CEO Joe Hamby.

To Hamby it is not profitable for those boats to go such a distance to fish and then turn around and come back all the way to American Samoa.

Tri Marine explains it has been a part of the American Samoan community for many years and the company is just completing a huge investment in a state of the art tuna processing facility in this territory.

“We are highly concerned about the potentially devastating impact that this loss of fishing grounds for the American Samoa based tuna fleet will have on the families who rely upon the territory’s tuna industry for their livelihoods. This decision, coming on the heels of the expansion of the Monument protected areas, makes it that much more concerning,” Tri Marine stated.

Apart from Tri Marine, San Diego-based American Tunaboat Association (ATA) has also shown dissatisfaction about the treaty signed in Honolulu, which is being deemed as a big win for Pacific nations.

“It is not a good deal for the US fleet. The high license fees are not viable with the low price of tuna that has been prevalent for most of the past year and US vessels will be losing money with these high license fees,” remarked ATA executive director Brian Hallman.

The director considers that the Treaty, which has been in effect for 26 years, may not survive into the future due to the continuous higher license fees and reduced access to important fishing ground.

On the other hand, Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) chief executive Transform Aqoraum is calling for an overhaul of the tuna deal, stating that the treaty can be used to ensure all Pacific nations still benefit. 

Related articles:

- Kiribati’s secret deal with Asia shocks the tuna sector
- Pacific Islands and US settle tuna deal
- Tuna cannery owner wants to boost region's processing capacity 

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