President Trump Restores Pacific Fishing Waters

By Vice Chair Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa- at large) 

On April 17^th, millions of Americans watched President Trump in a White House signing ceremony, surrounded by a small group of happy Samoans, who closed by singing ‘Ua Fa’afetai’, a beloved Samoan hymn of gratitude, and presented him with a red ula fala, worn by only those of high status. I was absolutely delighted to be there, and see President Trump make a major decision that the entire leadership of American Samoa has called for in unity since 2014. The President’s Proclamation signed on American Samoa’s Flag Day, when we celebrate becoming part of the U.S. and first raising Old Glory in American Samoa, will have benefits far beyond our islands. The United States benefits directly from the President’s decision, which bolsters American tuna, but also increases U.S. eyes and ears in the Pacific, where China’s much larger fleet operates far and wide as an agent of the CCP.

Why was this important decision necessary? In 2014, without consulting the indigenous leaders of American Samoa, immense areas of U.S. waters in the Pacific were summarily banned to U.S. fishing. This unwise decision, despite the lack of scientific backing, forced U.S. fishing vessels to travel much farther, stay out longer, and pay more. In the years since, the U.S. fleet has continued to diminish, as the U.S. became more reliant on foreign sourced fish or paying to fish in other nation’s waters, while handcuffing our own well-regulated, law-abiding U.S. fleet. Instead of the U.S. making reasonable decisions to benefit their own fleet, U.S. policy furthered the exploitable circumstances for the widespread international problem of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing.

For perspective, the original Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) area created under President George W. Bush was the size of Minnesota (80,000 sq. miles). President Obama increased it an unbelievable six-fold, adding the combined equivalent of California (163,000 sq. miles) and Texas (268,000 sq. miles). This fishing ban is five times the size of all the Great Lakes combined! In fact, it is roughly 20 percent of the area of the lower 48 states, and the smallest 20 states would fit into the fishing ban area.

President Trump stepped in with a Proclamation restoring needed indigenous fishing waters to the U.S. fleet that lives and bases in these islands. Now, our vessels no longer must travel hundreds of miles out of the way to maintain arbitrary 200-mile distances from small islands. The ships will be 50 miles out under the restored rule, the policy before 2014 that worked well, still far away out of sight over the horizon and leaving the islands undisturbed.  

While this sensible Proclamation is unquestionably important to the stability and future of American Samoa’s economy, it also is fantastic news for U.S. food security, a vital part of national security.  It also has more direct national security effects, as the increased presence of the U.S. fleet helps combat malign activities by the CCP. I am hopeful that the current focus on this issue also strengthens another key deterrent to CCP activity and influence, which is the active presence of U.S. Coast Guard fast cutters in these waters.

Restoration of fishing beyond 50 miles from the nearest shore will not reduce any protection for existing inland waterways, beaches, coral, or any other near-shore fishing species, flora or fauna. Thanks to President Trump, and the indigenous voices of American Samoans who have been committed to this renewal, it will provide healthy “Buy American” tuna for student lunches, military K-rations, and grocery stores all over the country.