In the wake of the decision made by the U.S. State Department to pull out of the South Pacific Tuna Treaty earlier this month, Tri Marine International says it will now look to other tuna sourcing opportunities for its American Samoa cannery.
According to Radio NZ, Tri Marine has also faced challenges in light of increased restriction imposed back in June 2015. Such difficulties in the sector have some concerned that Tri Marine may have to shutter its two Pago Pago canneries, if not enough raw material is available for processing.
Heidi Happonen, a spokesperson for Tri Marine, told Radio NZ that the company will seek to source tuna from all around the world, albeit at a price. As of now, the company is looking into sourcing tuna courtesy of other fleets that are able to make direct deliveries to American Samoa, and it is working with negotiators to establish a new treaty for U.S.-flagged vessels, said Happonen.
The American Samoa Government continues to keep an eye on how the decision made by the United States to sever its ties to the Pacific tuna treaty will affect the tuna industry at large. Currently, the withdrawal is being reviewed by the American Samoa Fisheries Task Force, executive assistant to the governor, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, told Radio NZ.
StarKist Samoa did not return comment to the publication regarding how it intends to obtain its fish supply in 2016.
