The Executive Director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Kitty Simonds believes that the proposal to expand the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument is a done deal.
And for American Samoa to buffer the blow, efforts should now focus on getting approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service to allow commercial fishing in the monument.
The Council is holding its 195th meeting here June 27-29 at the Lee Auditorium and one of the US Government officials attending is the head of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Simonds expects that the Council will get a packet of conditions for the expanded monument to review at its meeting.
As guests on the Morning Show today Simonds, Council Chairman John Gourley and Vice Chairman Taulapapa Willie sword discussed the monument expansion proposal and how it impacts US fishing in the Pacific.
Play Audio
Included in the agenda items for next week’s Council meeting is an amendment to the American Samoa Fishery Ecosystem Plan for bottom fish management. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga is scheduled to deliver remarks at the opening, next Tuesday.
There’s an opportunity for public comment from 4:30-5:00pm next Tuesday and also a Fishers Forum from 6-9pm the same day.
