American Samoa Fisheries Advisory Panel

🎣 Fishermen of American Samoa — we want to hear from YOU.

Are federal fishing rules confusing, difficult, or not working for local fishermen? Join tomorrow’s community discussion on reducing red tape in federal waters around American Samoa.

Share your experiences, concerns, and ideas directly with the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council and Lynker team.

📍 Sadie’s By the Sea – Clubhouse Room
🗓️ Tomorrow, May 6
⏰ 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Open to fishermen, alia operators, captains, crew, and community members. Refreshments provided.

Please share with other fishermen and fishing families. 🎣

Calling all bottomfish fishermen — we’ve got a community meeting coming up next week.

This is your chance to show up, share what you’re seeing on the water, and speak on issues that directly affect your fishing and livelihoods. Your input matters and helps shape management moving forward.

🚨 Congress is moving to crack down on illegal foreign fishing — and it directly affects American Samoa.

The FISH Act (Fighting Illegal Seafood Harvests Act) just cleared the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee unanimously. The Senate already passed it. It's headed for a full House vote. Here's what it does:

🚫 Blacklists foreign vessels caught IUU fishing from U.S. ports and waters
💪 Authorizes sanctions against illegal fishing operators
🛡️ Strengthens U.S. Coast Guard enforcement at sea

So why should we in American Samoa care? Because illegal foreign-caught fish doesn't disappear — it lands in the same market that our local longline fleet and U.S.-flagged purse seiners deliver into right here in Pago Pago.

Our fishermen follow the rules. They carry observers. They report every catch. They meet strict U.S. and international standards. Meanwhile, illegally caught seafood from less-regulated foreign fleets undercuts their prices and threatens their ability to keep operating. Every time a foreign IUU vessel profits, American Samoa loses.

The choice is simple: support a strong, rule-following, U.S.-flag fleet delivering tuna to our shores — or accept growing dependence on foreign seafood from fleets we can't hold accountable.

🎣 American Samoa's fisheries deserve a level playing field. The FISH Act is a step in the right direction. 🇺🇸

What are YOU reeling in? 😎🐟🛥️ At this point, we’re all bringing that fish home. Let’s go! 🇳🇿 🇼🇸 🇦🇸

🦈 SHARK DEPREDATION — YOUR VOICE IS BEING HEARD

Talofa lava, American Samoa!

You've been saying it for years — sharks are hitting your lines, raiding your FADs, and costing you fish, gear, and fuel. That frustration is now officially on the agenda at the highest level of Pacific fisheries management.

At the recent 206th Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Meeting in Honolulu, shark depredation was front and center — backed by a full report from the regional workshop held this past February that brought together fishermen, scientists, and managers from across the U.S. Pacific Islands. American Samoa's experiences were part of that conversation.

Here's what came out of it:

📌 YOU ARE NOT ALONE — Shark depredation is hitting fishermen from American Samoa to Hawaiʻi to Guam and CNMI. Lost fish at the FADs, damaged catch while trolling, wasted trips — the Council knows this is a regional crisis.

📌 YOUR COSTS NEED TO BE COUNTED — Scientists and managers acknowledged we don't yet have the full picture of how bad the problem is. Lost catch, damaged gear, and wasted trips all need to be formally documented so managers can act. Every report strengthens our case at the Council table.

📌 DETERRENT OPTIONS EXIST — Several commercial shark deterrent devices were reviewed and some show real promise. Testing these tools in actual fishing conditions — on alia boats, at FADs, while trolling — is now a priority. This isn't a distant academic project. The push is for practical tools in fishermen's hands.

📌 HARVESTING SHARKS WORKS — When numbers are manageable, targeted harvest reduces depredation. This stays on the policy table.

📌 THE REGULATIONS NEED TO MAKE SENSE FOR YOU — The workshop surfaced real confusion between local and federal shark rules. Clearer alignment is needed — and non-fishing activities that deliberately change shark behavior, like shark tours, need stronger accountability.

📌 THE BIG QUESTION STILL NEEDS ANSWERING — Are shark numbers actually increasing, and why? The Council is asking. We need that answer to drive real management action.

The Council process is moving — but it needs your data, your testimony, and your continued engagement to move faster and make sure American Samoa gets the specific attention our fishermen deserve.

If you've experienced shark depredation — at the FADs, on the banks, trolling, or longlining — document it and report it. Your experience matters and it's how we build the case for real solutions.

Your Advisory Panel will keep pushing this forward. 💪

👇 Drop a comment below — how has shark depredation affected your fishing? We want to hear from you.

🐟 Big news for American Samoa's fishing and seafood industry!

USDA has launched a new Office of Seafood to help fishermen, processors, and producers access federal programs more easily and develop an America First Seafood Strategy.

This matters for us. American Samoa is home to one of the only large-scale tuna processing operations in the entire United States. Pago Pago isn't just a fishing port — it's a domestic food production hub that supports thousands of jobs and a significant share of our economy.

With this new office focused on strengthening domestic processing, improving market access, and recognizing seafood as a core part of the U.S. food supply, American Samoa has a real opportunity to be seen and heard at the federal level in a new way.

The key now is making sure we have a seat at the table — and that any America First Seafood Strategy includes one of America's most important Pacific seafood processing centers.

Stay tuned as we push for American Samoa's inclusion. 🌊

Last Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium, American Samoa celebrated the raising of the U.S. flag in 1900. StarKist Samoa showed its appreciation as hundreds of cannery workers stepped onto the field together in matching colors.

StarKist is our largest private employer, and its workforce is the backbone of an industry that supports thousands more jobs across both our private and government sectors. The work they do every shift keeps our economy moving and helps supply tuna to U.S. military members and school lunch programs across the nation.

On behalf of the Advisory Panel, thank you to every StarKist worker who marched on Friday, and to the families who came out to support them. Your presence on Flag Day was a strong reminder of how much this workforce contributes to American Samoa — not just as employees, but as members of our community.

God bless American Samoa.

📢 Afio mai – Fonotaga mo Tulafono Faigafaiva

Ua vala’aulia tagata faifaiva ma le mamalu o le atunu’u e auai ma fa’asoa manatu i tulafono faigafaiva a le malo tele.

📍 Sadie’s By the Sea (Clubhouse), Pago Pago
📅 May 6 | ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM

💬 Fa’asoa ou manatu i tulafono e lē manino pe faigatā ona malamalama

Afio mai e talanoa ma fesoasoani e fa’aleleia faiga faigafaiva i Amerika Samoa.

📢 Have Your Voice Heard – Fisheries Regulatory Review Meeting

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, in partnership with Lynker and The Parnin Group, is hosting a community meeting in American Samoa to talk about federal fishing rules and how they impact our local fishermen and communities.

This is your chance to share your experiences, cultural knowledge, and concerns about federal fishing regulations—and help identify what’s confusing, unnecessary, or needs improvement.

📍 Location: Sadie’s By the Sea – Clubhouse Room, Pago Pago
📅 Date: May 6
⏰ Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

💬 Discussion will include:

Understanding federal fishing rules
Differences between local and federal laws
Identifying confusing or unnecessary regulations
Sharing real experiences from the community

🍽️ Refreshments will be provided

This effort is part of a broader project to simplify regulations, improve coordination, and ensure local voices are included in future fishery management decisions

Come talk story and be part of shaping the future of fisheries in American Samoa.