October 28, 2023 — Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Chair Taulapapa Will Sword made an impassioned plea for assistance on the proposed Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) national marine sanctuary at a national meeting of the regional fishery management councils.
In a discussion on the process for establishing fishing regulations in national marine sanctuaries during the meeting Oct. 11-13, 2023 in Alexandria, Virginia, Taulapapa exposed the plight of American Samoa in the face of the federal government move proposing a sanctuary in the PRI.
“This administration’s EOs [Executive Orders] on equity and environmental justice goals are rubbish if this sanctuary proposal becomes a reality for there will be no commercial fishing,” said Taulapapa. “Without our cannery, we become useless to this great country; our underserved fishing community suffers, for fishing is our culture!”