The American Samoa Government and cannery officials are hoping to convince Pacific governments to allow locally-based US fishing boats to fish in their exclusive economic zones or EEZs.
Territorial government officials plans to make their pitch during a meeting this month in Pago Pago when representatives of Parties to the Nauru Agreement and the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency are on the island.
Our correspondent reports American Samoa is concerned by the reduction of fishing days for US vessels in the EEZ of Kiribati, under a new fishing treaty agreement signed last month between the the US and the FFA.
The governor's executive assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, says it's important that American Samoa speaks directly to PNA and FFA officials, given the recently negotiated fishing treaty between Kiribati and the US.
