Residents of American Samoa have an opportunity to comment on the plan by President Biden to establish a new national marine sanctuary in, and around, the waters of the Pacific Remote Islands.
A public hearing on the proposal is set for May 24 from 4 to 6PM, at the Tauese PF Sunia Ocean center.
You can also participate virtually at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5847053733658211157
Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga joined the Governors of the other US Pacific Territories in strongly opposing the plan, and asked that NOAA consult with the territories first before making a final decision.
The Governors are deeply concerned that the valuable and geopolitical strategic US commercial tuna fisheries—purse seine and longline—will further be impacted by limiting their sustainable fishing access in and around those areas.
They noted that the cannery in American Samoa will suffer as US vessels will have to deliver their catch to canneries in foreign ports closer to their fishing grounds. The cannery supports nearly one-third of our territory’s workforce.
Governor Lemanu has stressed that “the backbone of American Samoa’s economy depends on the viability of the StarKist cannery and supply from U.S.-flagged tuna purse seiners. This local industry supports 5,000 jobs in the territory with an estimated workforce of 18,000 people.”
He said closing more fishing areas off, in the name of conservation, would be detrimental to the territory’s tuna canning industry.
The proposed area in the central Pacific Ocean includes marine areas within the existing Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, as well as currently unprotected submerged lands and waters to the full extent of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, an area totaling about 770,000 square miles.
Public scoping is the first phase in the designation process, during which the public can comment through June 2 on the scope of issues and impacts to be considered for a proposed sanctuary.
Comments may also be submitted online, by mail, in-person or virtually, at public scoping meetings.
The public is invited to comment on the proposed sanctuary designation through June 2, 2023, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov, by searching for docket number NOAA-NOS-2023-0052. Comments may also be mailed if postmarked by June 2, 2023.
Mail to:
PRI-Proposed Sanctuary, NOAA/ONMS
℅ Hoku Kaaekuahiwi Pousima
76 Kamehameha Ave.
Hilo, HI 96720
A detailed description of the proposed sanctuary, based on the nomination submitted by the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition, as well as additional information about opportunities to provide comment, can be found at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/pacific-remote-islands.
