U.S. Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin - from American Samoa-  responded to what he described as “false statements” made by Joe Finete as reported by Pacific Magazine and papers in American Samoa.

“To strengthen our US tuna fishing fleet and to make sure our tuna canneries have enough fish coming in to protect the jobs of our workers, I introduced a bill to allow newly built US tuna boats to fish in the waters around Howland Island, Baker Island, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island,” Faleomavaega said. “It is also my intent to exclude new members of our fleet from fishing in the EEZs of American Samoa, Guam, and CNMI. Mr. Finete opposes my efforts.”

Finete, the chairman of the United States Tunaboat Owners Coalition, issued a strong letter attacking Faleomavaega’s proposed legislation.
 
“It is shocking to discover that Faleomavaega’s provision gives foreign-built boats, without any apparent payment, the right to fish in the vast waters around the U.S. islands north of Samoa: Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Johnston, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island,” Finete said. “Fishing in these islands’ waters is currently reserved under law for boats built under the U.S. flag, including of course, American Samoa.  The Delegate drastically understates the number of boats in the U.S. tuna fleet to justify his scheme to allow Asian-built boats to take fish in our waters and undermine American Samoa’s ship-building potential,” he wrote in a June 26, 2008 letter to American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono.

Finete, whose organization represents U.S. fishing boats that are based in American Samoa, also said Faleomavaega’s legislation could result in fewer catches being delivered to the two tuna canneries in American Samoa.

“For the record, Mr. Finete is a career fisherman who owns two tuna boats that are part of the old US tuna fishing fleet,” Faleomavaega said in his response. “Mr. Finete is also the Chairman of the US Tunaboat Owners Coalition, a coalition he recently established in San Diego at his home address with Mr. Manase Mansur, a former Republican lobbyist and long-time supporter of Mrs. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, as his Executive Director.”

Faleomavaega charges that Finete’s coalition is “composed of one boat owner, meaning himself.  If other tuna boat owners belong to his coalition, I am hopeful they will come forward so that we can work together to clear up the misinformation Mr. Finete has put forward.”

The American Samoa Delegate, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, said the American Tunaboat Association, which was established more than 30 years ago, is the association that represents almost the entire U.S. tuna fishing fleet which includes about 26 or 27 boats, both old and new. 

“Mr. Finete knows that many of the tuna boat owners do not agree with his actions or accusations and that the American Tunaboat Association is not involved in his efforts,” he said.

Despite this, Faleomavaega said he appreciated that Finete has “provided fish to our canneries for the past 20 years. Like every other tuna boat owner, I want Mr.
Finete to do well and make as much money as he can. But I will not support Mr. Finete’s efforts to put himself before the welfare of our people.  Frankly, I believe it is wrong for Mr. Finete to assert that American Samoa should only be concerned about his two boats.  American Samoa must be concerned about our entire fishing fleet as well as our two canneries. Currently, we do not have enough boats to supply our canneries with the fish they need.  No fish means no canneries and no canneries mean no jobs for our more than 5,000 tuna cannery workers.”

Faleomavaega said Fenete’s “views are shortsighted and politically motivated.”

“Fred Radewagen, a senior advisor to his wife, Mrs. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, has contacted lobbyists in Washington DC to oppose the legislation which I introduced to strengthen our U.S. tuna fishing fleet,” Faleomavaega said.  “As a result of his efforts, Mr. Finete’s coalition is now being represented by a lobbyist who has been hired to prevent new members of the US tuna fishing fleet from fishing in the uninhabited waters north of Samoa including Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Johnston, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Islands thus harming the U.S. tuna fish fleet’s ability to supply our canneries with fish, which could in the long-term cost our cannery workers their jobs.

“While Mr. Finete, Mr. Radewagen, and Mr. Mansur are entitled to pursue whatever course they wish, I believe our people deserve to know the truth about the misleading reports and rumors they are perpetuating, and this is why I am responding to Mr. Finete’s letter dated June 26 which he wrote to Governor Togiola and copied to the Lieutenant Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House,” Faleomavaega said.

The American Samoa Delegate said that “although Mr. Finete has never contacted my office nor did he copy me on his letter, my door remains open and I will do all I can to assist him and make sure that he enjoys 20 more years of good business in American Samoa.”