Operators and owners of alia and longline vessels in American Samoa continue to be divided over a proposal to allow longliners to fish temporarily in areas designated only for alia vessels.
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is looking at taking action in its council meeting in March on a proposal to amend the Large Vessel Prohibited Area to help the longline industry.
The LVPA requires longliners or vessels larger than 50 feet in length to fish 50 nautical miles away from shore.
An alia owner, Lelago Maatulimanu Savusi, says when he goes out trolling he hardly catches any fish and if the longliners are allowed to fish 50 miles from shore, the fish stock will be depleted.