Bill Would Give AS Tuna Industry More Say

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Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen told a House panel, American Samoa deserves a‘say’ in Western Pacific resource management decisions under new treaty conventions…and her “Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act” would achieve that. KHJ News Washington Correspondent Matt Kaye with details.

Radewagen told the Natural Resources Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee, American Samoa’s tuna industry would be severely impacted by ongoing and possible future access reductions—

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Congresswoman Radewagen’s bill, co-sponsored with Insular Subcommittee Chair Don Young of Alaska, requires US commissioners at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention to consider providing access to traditional fishing grounds in any formal actions.

Radewagen says science reviews show current conservation and management efforts are working, and current fishing levels should continue…

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Radewagen’s bill, that has bipartisan committee support, would enable the US to take part in high seas fishery decisions made outside pre existing management agreements, such as the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

State Department and NOAA officials urged lawmakers to implement the negotiated conventions…which Radewagen’s bill would do, so the US could participate in management decisions that directly affect US economic zones.

The West and North Pacific Fishery Management Councils and the American Tuna Boat Association, endorsed Radewagen’s bill. State and NOAA are seeking modest changes, they suggested could be worked out.

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