The United States Congress's Natural Resources Committee has heard a strong case from the American Samoa cannery, Starkist Samoa, for federal government protection from foreign competition.
US Congressional Committee in American Samoa Photo: RNZI/Monica Miller
Eight members of the Committee, which has jurisdiction over the US Pacific territories, have just completed a two day visit to American Samoa.,
StarKist discussed the impact of minimum wage law, reduced fishing days and the increased in costs to US fishing boats under the new South Pacific Tuna Treaty, the impact of US imposed regulations on fishing in the high seas, and how the company relies on tax credits which will end in 2018.
The committee chair, Rob Bishop, said they could help.
"There are some things that we can do, but we also need some help from the territorial government. I think one of the things that the administration will want, especially talking about the Monument [which created vast marine sanctuaries in the Pacific] and the fishing days they will want some input from the territorial government."
