FFA Says American Samoa Should Make Concerns Known But…

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An American Samoa Government official who has done the rounds of discussions and negotiations surrounding the US South Pacific Tuna Treaty is of the opinion that American Samoa could be effectively used to lobby with Pacific island countries for fishing rights for US tuna boats.

Director of Commerce Keniseli Lafaele made this recommendation in a report about one of the negotiating meetings he and Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale attended in New Zealand.

Lafaele said in his report to Governor Lolo that as a member of the Pacific island community, American Samoa can use island connections to garner support from Pacific island countries, in a  way that US negotiators can never achieve.

Governor Lolo has expressed concern with federal officials that the US is not consulting with and involving American Samoa in fisheries discussions that have a huge impact on the territory.

At a reporting the tuna story workshop in Palau last week, KHJ News asked Mr. James Movick, Director General of the Forum Fisheries Agency, which administers the US South Pacific Tuna Treaty, what he thought of the US State Department using American Samoa in negotiations with Pacific island Parties.

Movick said that as he understands it US laws requires wide consultations and American Samoa has been at the table in the discussions.
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