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Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center : Cultural Fishing in American Samoa
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2018
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Series: Administrative report H ; 18-03
[PDF-392.80 KB]
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Description:Local small boat (alia) and larger monohull longline fisheries have operated in American Samoa since the 1990s. In the early 2000s, at the height of alia longline landings and participation by alia and monohull vessels, there was concern about gear conflicts and catch competition between these two fleets. In response, in 2002 the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) developed, and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved, a fishery management plan amendment and regulations establishing a Large Vessel Prohibited Area (LVPA) which extends seaward 30–50 nm around the various islands around American Samoa and restricts monohull longline vessels >50 ft. in length from fishing for pelagic management unit species within the LVPA (NMFSNOAA 2002). Since 2002, the alia fleet participating in longline fishing methods has declined to only one or two vessels. Decreasing catch rates, increases in fuel prices, lack of capacity to store and freeze catch, as well as lack of capital to maintain and repair their vessels led many alia fishers to switch to bottomfishing and trolling, which occur today. Others exited the fishery all together. The longline fleet of monohull vessels has also experienced declining catch rates and fish prices, and increasing fuel and operating costs (Pan 2017). In addition, only one tuna cannery is still in operation in Pago Pago Harbor. To address changing fishery conditions, the Council recommended in 2015 an exemption to the LVPA rule that allowed large (>50 ft) U.S. vessels holding a Federal American Samoa longline limited entry permit to fish in certain portions of the LVPA. NMFS approved this amendment and implemented the LVPA exemption in January 2016 (NMFS 2016).
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Rights Information:Public Domain
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Compliance:Submitted
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