Gov. Togiola Tulafono says his administration is working on building a multi-million freezer storage facility to provide tuna storage space for not only the tuna canneries but also the local fishing fleet, and doing so is part of the government’s commitment to assist the canneries in the territory.
The Governor says this project is to provide 4500 Mt capacity to store fish from fishing vessels, who are now unable to immediately off-load their tuna at the canneries.
He said this facility will allow fishing vessels to off-load their catch right away and head back out to sea instead of waiting in port for several weeks for off loading purposes.
According to the governor, the USDA in Hawai’i has endorsed the local project but their office could not provide the necessary funding for such a major undertaking, which is estimated to cost between $11 million and $12 million.
The Hawai’i office has agreed to work with ASG on American Samoa’s application to be submitted directly to the USDA in Washington D.C., which is hoped to be completed before the end of the year, he said.
Togiola says he has already discussed this facility with StarKist Samoa and Tri-Marine International, operator of the new cannery Samoa Tuna Processors, as help to the canneries, as well as benefitting the local fishing fleet that want to sell their catches to the canneries.
He said the government needs to stand strong to protect local companies -especially the canneries - to ensure that they don’t leave our shores, as did Chicken of the Sea, when they closed down COS Samoa Packing.
He said the goal for this important project is to assist the canneries in order to protect this backbone of the local economy. Togiola said that without these companies, which provide jobs through their operations as well as by supporting and patronizing companies that serve the canneries, American Samoa will continue to depend only on federal grants.
He called for everyone’s support in this endeavor and hopes that things will move forward in the new year.
