It will be a few more months before training of local fishermen begins on the first super alia, “Tautua Mua.”
Tony Langkilde who is in charge of the super alia project at the Department of Commerce says hiring of a qualified captain and crew is almost completed.
DOC is aiming for August or September to begin training for local fishermen. He explains that there will be two tracks to the training program One will teach deckhands how to fish using longline and electric reels and the second track will teach captains on operating the vessels, the fishing industry, using navigational devices and fisheries regulations.
Langkilde says the end result of the training is to create a workforce that will be able to fish on the super alia and also ensure a stable supply of fresh fish. He said the main target for the catch from these vessels is the local market including restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and the School Lunch Program
An American Samoa Seafood Academy has been set up at the Fagatogo marketplace as part of the project. Langkilde says they will work with the American Samoa Community College and high schools to entice students to fisheries related fields .
Three more super alia vessels will be made available under the project funded by the economic Development Administration. The second one should be arriving in December or January, the third one six months after that and the final vessel should be here towards the end of 2025.
