The President and CEO of StarKist Co., Mr Andrew Choe told a meeting of the House Economic Developmnent Committee last week that the recent increases in port fees and the new scanner fees present additional costs to their canning operations.
In addition they also impact secondary businesses which depend on the tuna industry.
Mr Choe spent nearly two hours Thursday explaining the challenges that StarKist Samoa faces with reduced access to fishing grounds, fishing boats which used to supply the cannery no longer coming to American Samoa due to strict Coast Guard regulations, and higher utility costs.
The StarKist executive said the increae in port fees/charges and scanner fees create addional costs for the cannery.
Rep. Vui Florence Saulo asked Mr. Choe if he had discussed the fees with with Goevrnor Lolo.
Mr Choe had this response.
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