04 October 2015

Am. Samoa Governor Critical Of (U.S.) Coast Guard’s Overzealous Enforcement


Samoa News

Lolo says fishing vessels being deterred from dropping catch 
at canneries

By Fili Sagapolutele

(PAGO PAGO, American Samoa)  During a meeting last week, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga reiterated his concerns to US Coast Guard officials about the impact the federal agency’s enforcement practices in the territory have had, which discourage fishing vessels coming into the Port of Pago Pago to unload their catch for the canneries — which are the economic backbone of American Samoa.

Last month, the governor wrote to Coast Guard Rear Admiral Vincent B. Atkins, commander of the USCG District 14 Honolulu, calling for the USCG to be sensitive to American Samoa’s dependency on the tuna industry when performing their duties, and urged the Coast Guard to work together with the territorial government to better serve the people.

The governor’s request followed an incident where two fishing boats were detained indefinitely because of suspected environmental violations, and he has been told that canneries are routinely frustrated in their fish procurement operations when boat owners or reefer carriers refuse to deliver to American Samoa "out of concern for what they perceive to be overzealous USCG boarding parties and inspectors."

Last week the governor met — on island — with Coast Guard Capt. Shannon Gilreath, the USCG Commander of Sector Honolulu, and captains of the Port of Honolulu and Port of Pago Pago. At the meeting the governor repeated his concern about the impact of the enforcement practices of the USCG, which is discouraging many fishing vessels from entering Pago Pago Harbor to unload their catch.

"This affects the canneries and threatens suspension of production, which translates to purchasing power reduction thus affecting all of the private businesses as well as government revenue," according to the Governor’s Office in response to Samoa News inquiries.

Gilreath acknowledged the Governor's concern and said "we will work collaboratively to address enforcement practices which discourage fishing vessels to off-load their catches at the canneries."

While on island, Gilreath also met with the American Samoa Fishery Task Force and the Board of Marine Inspectors, which comes under the purview of the Port Administration. Tri Marine International officials also attended these two meetings, and Tri Marine’s chief operating officer John Hamby was among the company officials at the meeting. (Tri Marine and StarKist Samoa are members of the task force and the Board of Marine Inspectors).

Tri Marine spokesperson Heidi Happonen said last week that the task force and Board of Marine Inspectors "are working closely and collaboratively with the Coast Guard for the benefit of the Territory’s tuna industry, which includes the fishing boats that deliver tuna to American Samoa."

Its local operations include a US flagged purse seiner fleet and the Samoa Tuna Processors cannery.

Samoa News has been told by at least one captain of a purse seiner vessel, which used to be based out of American Samoa that over the last several months they no longer come here, due to the over-the-top USCG inspections, choosing instead to ‘transship’ in Samoa, as well as pick up their supplies, etc.

Meanwhile, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has yet to issue a decision on Tri Marine’s petition that would allow US flagged purse seine vessels, which unload their catch at the local canneries, to fish in the US EZZ and on the high seas.

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Am. Samoa Governor Critical Of Coast Guard’s 
Overzealous Enforcement

Lolo says fishing vessels being deterred from dropping catch at canneries

By Fili Sagapolutele

(PAGO PAGO, American Samoa)  During a meeting last week, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga reiterated his concerns to US Coast Guard officials about the impact the federal agency’s enforcement practices in the territory have had, which discourage fishing vessels coming into the Port of Pago Pago to unload their catch for the canneries — which are the economic backbone of American Samoa.

Last month, the governor wrote to Coast Guard Rear Admiral Vincent B. Atkins, commander of the USCG District 14 Honolulu, calling for the USCG to be sensitive to American Samoa’s dependency on the tuna industry when performing their duties, and urged the Coast Guard to work together with the territorial government to better serve the people.

The governor’s request followed an incident where two fishing boats were detained indefinitely because of suspected environmental violations, and he has been told that canneries are routinely frustrated in their fish procurement operations when boat owners or reefer carriers refuse to deliver to American Samoa "out of concern for what they perceive to be overzealous USCG boarding parties and inspectors."

Last week the governor met — on island — with Coast Guard Capt. Shannon Gilreath, the USCG Commander of Sector Honolulu, and captains of the Port of Honolulu and Port of Pago Pago. At the meeting the governor repeated his concern about the impact of the enforcement practices of the USCG, which is discouraging many fishing vessels from entering Pago Pago Harbor to unload their catch.

"This affects the canneries and threatens suspension of production, which translates to purchasing power reduction thus affecting all of the private businesses as well as government revenue," according to the Governor’s Office in response to Samoa News inquiries.

Gilreath acknowledged the Governor's concern and said "we will work collaboratively to address enforcement practices which discourage fishing vessels to off-load their catches at the canneries."

While on island, Gilreath also met with the American Samoa Fishery Task Force and the Board of Marine Inspectors, which comes under the purview of the Port Administration. Tri Marine International officials also attended these two meetings, and Tri Marine’s chief operating officer John Hamby was among the company officials at the meeting. (Tri Marine and StarKist Samoa are members of the task force and the Board of Marine Inspectors).

Tri Marine spokesperson Heidi Happonen said last week that the task force and Board of Marine Inspectors "are working closely and collaboratively with the Coast Guard for the benefit of the Territory’s tuna industry, which includes the fishing boats that deliver tuna to American Samoa."

Its local operations include a US flagged purse seiner fleet and the Samoa Tuna Processors cannery.

Samoa News has been told by at least one captain of a purse seiner vessel, which used to be based out of American Samoa that over the last several months they no longer come here, due to the over-the-top USCG inspections, choosing instead to ‘transship’ in Samoa, as well as pick up their supplies, etc.

Meanwhile, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has yet to issue a decision on Tri Marine’s petition that would allow US flagged purse seine vessels, which unload their catch at the local canneries, to fish in the US EZZ and on the high seas.


BVI REMAINS A TRUSTED PARTNER IN ASIA PACIFIC REGION

Press Release

September 30, 2015


BVI House Asia has celebrated its second anniversary in Hong Kong and Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is pleased that the Territory remains a trusted partner in the Asia Pacific Region.

In an address to business leaders at the Business BVI Asia 2015 Second Annual Regional Conference in Hong Kong, Premier Smith stated, “We are still in the right place and at the right time. The BVI is immensely proud and fortunate to have been working with Asian businesses and individuals as they achieved economic success and Asia experienced incredible growth over the last 25 years.”

The Honourable Premier said Asia will continue to make its mark with vitality, financial success and innovation. He added that despite some current concerns, the economic experts predict a reasonably good outlook for Asia’s future.

“The BVI remains at the forefront of international corporate structuring for cross-border transactions and investing worldwide,” Premier Smith said.

Premier Smith stated that the Territory’s characteristics, such as a familiar legal system based on English common law, internationally compliant regulations and tax neutrality, make the BVI an especially attractive jurisdiction for pooling capital globally and investing it in markets where legal barriers or political risks would otherwise deter investment.

Premier Smith also announced a number of significant BVI initiatives, including the BVI Financial Services Commission’s establishment of an office at BVI House Asia to work directly with regional clients on BVI regulatory matters. He added that the BVI

Financial Services Commission will launch special external access to its platform for filing transactions in November.

Presentations made at the conference included “China’s One Belt One Road Regional Development Strategy”; “Future Disruption in the Offshore Space: Where will the next ‘Uber’ come from?” and “Emerging Wealth in China: Millionaire Households & Ultra High-Net Worth Households.”

Director of Economics Unit, The Economist Group, Beijing, Dr. Qian Liu also spoke at the event and stated that the “BVI is sitting on a sweet spot with the rise of China”.

Other notable speakers included Justice Barry Leon of the High Court of the Virgin Islands (Commercial Division); Jonathon Clifton, Group Managing Director of OIL; Matt Roberts, Partner of Harneys Hong Kong; Michelle L. Georges, Asia Representative, BVI Financial Services Commission; and Elise Donovan, Director of Hong Kong-based BVI House Asia.

Ms. Donovan said that BVI House Asia is proud to support Business BVI Asia for the second time in Hong Kong, a key global financial centre where they have had a physical presence since 2013. She said in addition, the office has recently launched a website to serve as a portal of information and will continue to expand its services to better serve BVI’s business partners in the region.

The conference was held on September 23 under the theme “Pivoting to Asia – A View Beyond the Horizon. Over 100 industry experts and leaders from the most progressive businesses in Asia and the BVI attended the event and exchanged insights and knowledge about the offshore industry. BVI House Asia, the representative office of the Government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in Asia Pacific, was pleased to be the sole diamond sponsor of the conference for the second consecutive year.