“We are in litigation and requests for comments on the lawsuit should be addressed to the Justice Department.”
That’s the response from one of the defendants in the lawsuit by the territory of American Samoa over the Large Vessel Prohibited Area amendment which has now allowed long liners to fish in an area that was preciously limited to alia fishing boats only.
The lawsuit was filed in the Honolulu Federal District Court last Friday and seeks to overturn the rule.
The amendment was made at the recommendation of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.
Executive Director, Kitty Simonds told KHJ News, “We are satisfied that the action taken by the agency is appropriate and that the action meets all legal requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.”
