16 Mar 2013

American Samoa call to roll back marine sanctuary

6:24 am on 16 March 2013

Traditional leaders in American Samoa have urged the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council to help reverse the expansion of what is now known as the American Samoa National Marine Sanctuary.

The eastern district governor Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson, and Manu'a District Governor Misaalefua Hudson have voiced opposition against the expansion of the sanctuary which is now safeguarded by federal regulation.

Alo says National Marine Fisheries Service data shows that the area between Manu`a islands and Rose Atoll has the potential fishing revenue of 1.2 million US dollars per year.

He says that's a lot to take away and points out that most of the villages in his district are on the ocean front, with many residents relying on fishing to feed their families.

He says the sanctuary expansion process was not clear, did not appear to be fair and was done too quickly.

Proponents of the sanctuary say fishing is still allowed in all but one percent of the sanctuary.