Amata Radewagen: “As the Congresswoman from American Samoa, I can confidently say that fishing and the jobs it provides are one of the…”

“As the Congresswoman from American Samoa, I can confidently say that fishing and the jobs it provides are one of the biggest issues of our territory. It is a way of life. It has shaped our culture, our customs, and our traditions, and that must continue. It is for that reason that I am a cosponsor of H.R. 774, the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015. Sometimes referred to as ``pirate fishing,'' illegal, unreported, and unregulated--or IUU--fishing is a wide range of fishing activities that fail to comply with national, regional, or global fisheries, conservation, and management requirements. These unlawful practices impact various sectors of our seafood industry, which is certainly true in respect to our tuna industry in American Samoa. By nature, the impact of IUU fishing is difficult to quantify, though some estimates suggest that it results in economic losses between $10 billion to $23 billion worldwide annually. The effects of IUU fishing aren't only felt on the decks of our fishing boats, the impacts that we are talking about here can be felt all the way to your dinner plate. The intent of H.R. 774 is to ensure that the fishermen that I represent can operate on a level playing field with foreign nation vessels. Specifically, the bill aims to identify and regulate illegal foreign fishing vessels that are hurting our fishermen's ability to provide for their families.…”