Page 39 - IB Jan 2024

US scores overdue increase in bigeye tuna catch limit, while
American Samoa struggles to sustain its local tuna economy

By Mark Fitchett, Western Pacific
Regional Fishery Management Council

The 20th Regular Session of the
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission (WCPFC) was held
December 4-8, 2023, in Rarotonga, Cook
Islands. The primary focus at this meeting
was revising the conservation and management measure
(CMM) for tropical tuna. For the Western Pacific Regional
Fishery Management Council (Council), the two major
objectives were for the WCPFC to 1) increase the bigeye
tuna catch limit for the Hawai‘i-based U.S. longline fishery;
and 2) obtain recognition for American Samoa purse
seine vessels to enjoy privileges entitled to Small Island
Developing States and Participating Territories.
The first objective was achieved as the catch limit
for the Hawai‘i-based longline fishery increased from
3,554 to 6,554 metric tons. This expansion factored
in catch previously authorized through arrangements
transferring up to 3,000 metric tons in bigeye catch from
the U.S. Participating Territories to U.S. longline vessels.
Catch limit increases for other nations (see Table 1) are
conditional based on increasing observer coverage from
a minimum of 5%, with a proportional increase in catch up
to 10%. The United States is exempt from these observer
coverage requirements because the U.S. fishery already
has the highest longline vessel observer coverage and is
recognized as the ‘gold standard’ for monitoring within the
international fishing community.
However, the second objective proved elusive for the survival of the industry.
American Samoa, as the Commission did not adopt The new CMM included reduced FAD closure periods for
a footnote recognizing U.S.-flagged purse seine tuna purse seine vessels from three months in EEZs of Pacific
vessels as ‘integral to the American Samoa economy.’ nations to 1.5 months and to 2.5 months on the high seas.
This recognition would treat these vessels that offload Purse seine effort limits in zone and on the high seas for the
and home port in American Samoa as associated with United States remain unchanged at 1,828 days. Perhaps
the Participating Territory, and therefore exempt from the reduction in FAD closures will incentivize vessels to
restrictions using fish aggregating devices (FADs). Purse remain in the WCPFC area year-round.
seine vessels are more efficient using FADs and are American Samoa remains hopeful that a proposed
restricted seasonally during closures on the high seas and Marine National Sanctuary by the Biden Administration
inside economic exclusive zones (EEZs) of Pacific Island around the Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) will not prohibit
nations. The critical link lies in the seasonal closures commercial tuna fishing. The proposed sanctuary overlays
affecting purse seine vessels, prompting them to either U.S. EEZ waters responsible for 10% of U.S. purse seine
offload in American Samoa or shift to the eastern Pacific catch offloaded to American Samoa. Most U.S. waters are
during closure periods. The latter would result in offloading already closed due to the existing PRI Marine National
in the Americas (e.g., Ecuador or Mexico), threatening the Monument. The Council, at its December 2023 meeting,
vital flow of fish sustaining the cannery in Pago Pago, and asserted that the Council’s existing fishing regulations
the local fishing economy. under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for this area have
The tuna industry represents more than 80% of private established comprehensive protection since the 1980s. The
employment in American Samoa. Almost 85% of the purse regulations continue to provide long-lasting conservation
seine vessels offloading in American Samoa are from and management for the PRI fishery ecosystem, habitat
U.S.-flagged vessels, and a reduction in the size of the and resources. American Samoa needs to maintain access
U.S. fleet in recent years (40 vessels in 2015 to 12 vessels to U.S. waters for its local purse seine fishery and needs
in 2022) has resulted in a significant decline in landings to recognition for the remaining 12 vessels to be exempt from
the cannery. So any WCPFC provisions to incentivize and seasonal FAD closures.
maintain supply of tuna to Pago Pago are imperative for

Islands Business, January 2024 39