The StarKist cannery has told the American Samoa longline fleet that there is not much it can do to raise fish prices.
The Tautai o Samoa Longline & Fishing Association, a group of local boat owners that supply fish to Starkist, asked the cannery earlier this month to consider a separate price classification for fish caught by US flagged vessels.
Boat owners say the continuous decline in albacore prices, the current low catch rate, the increasing cost of fuel, bait and other operating costs have made it financially unfeasible for them to go out fishing.
Starkist's Justin Yu, says price is determined globally.
He says in order to stay competitive, StarKist has to follow the market trend.
