Meanwhile, Tri-Marine’s Chief Operations Officer Joe Hamby told the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council that American Samoa’s tuna processing industry is struggling to compete with US suppliers because of ongoing fish shortages.
Hamby said American Samoan canneries are no longer able to take advantage of selling tuna to the US market duty-free since they have limited fish supplies to process.
Hamby, who is now the Acting CEO of Samoa Tuna Processors after the resignation of former CEO, Don Binotto said, “American Samoa’s only advantage besides duty-free access to the US market is fish supply. That advantage has been reduced and may be considered lost due to closure or reduced access to some of American Samoa’s traditional fishing grounds.”
