There’s concern that President Trump’s executive order directing a re-evaluation of US foreign aid would affect the South Pacific Tuna Treaty that allows US vessels to fish in national waters of Pacific Island countries.
The US had pledged $60 million annually for economic assistance to Pacific Island countries as part of the Tuna Treaty.
At the meeting of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council in Honolulu this week, Taotasi Archie Soliai, cautioned that any disruption in aid to Pacific Island countries may undermine ongoing negotiations and agreements that ensure the US fleet remains competitive and operational.
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There’s also grave concern about budget reductions particularly for the Council’s scholarship program, which supports university students from American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas. Since its inauguration in 2015, the Council’s US Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity Building Scholarship Program has supported students from the territories.
Scholarship recipients commit to working in their local fishery management agency for every year of funding they receive.
American Samoa House Representative Trude Ledoux-Sunia thanked the Council for its hard work in fighting for fisheries and economic stability of the territory. However, she expressed disappointment in the loss of funding as it would have a huge impact on developing the next generation of fishing scientists and managers.
The Council is urging the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to address severe funding shortfalls that threaten the future of fisheries management and vital capacity-building programs across the Pacific Islands. With fishery resources and local economies at risk, the Council is requesting immediate increases in funding allocations to regional fishery management councils from the DOC, NOAA, and the Office of Management and Budget.
