June 4, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ----

FALEOMAVAEGA TO ATTEND PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE IN THE MARSHALLS

CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE HAS BEEN INVITED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, BUREAU OF OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO THE "SECOND MULTILATERAL HIGH LEVEL CONFERENCE ON THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISH STOCKS IN THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC". THE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, SPONSORED BY THE FORUM FISHERIES AGENCY, WILL BE ATTENDED BY MINISTERS FROM 16 PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES AND OTHER DISTANT WATER FISHING NATIONS, INCLUDING KOREA, JAPAN, CHINA, THE PHILIPPINES AND TAIWAN. IT WILL BE HELD IN MAJURO, REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 9, 1997.

"THE MAJURO FISHERIES CONFERENCE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS IT BEGINS THE GROUNDWORK FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL FISHERIES CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT REGIME, SOMETHING THAT HAS LONG BEEN LACKING IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC," STATED CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA. "GIVEN OUR TUNA FISHING INDUSTRY IN AMERICAN SAMOA, THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MAJURO CONFERENCE WILL BE CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY."

"I AM GLAD THAT THE ISLAND NATIONS ARE TAKING STEPS NOW TO ENSURE THAT OUR WATERS ARE NOT OVERFISHED. WE MUST EXERCISE GREATER CONTROL OVER HOW WE MANAGE OUR MARINE RESOURCES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC," STATED FALEOMAVAEGA. ALTHOUGH WE ARE BLESSED WITH THE MOST PRODUCTIVE TUNA FISHING GROUND IN THE WORLD -- PRODUCING CLOSE TO U.S.$2 BILLION A YEAR IN SKIPJACK, YELLOWFIN, BIGEYE AND ALBACORE CATCHES -- WE CAN EASILY DESTROY OUR FISHSTOCKS THROUGH OVERFISHING AND DEPLETION, AS HAS OCCURRED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE."

FALEOMAVAEGA CONCLUDED, "WITH HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISH LIKE TUNA, IT IS VITAL THAT ALL NATIONS FISHING IN THE REGION PARTICIPATE IN ORDER TO HAVE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCE. THE INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION (IATTC) HAS SERVED THAT ROLE FOR 48 YEARS IN PROTECTING FISHSTOCKS IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. NOW, THE MAJURO CONFERENCE HOLDS THE PROMISE FOR CREATION OF A SIMILAR REGIONAL FISHERIES CONSERVATION REGIME FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC AND I AM HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUILDING OF THIS NEEDED INSTITUTION."