The Starkist cannery has told the American Samoa longline fleet that there is not much it can do to raise fish prices, said Radio New Zealand International.
Prices are determined globally by market trends, and Starkist must follow these to stay competitive, said the company’s Justin Yu.
Earlier this month, the Tautai o Samoa Longline & Fishing Association — a group of boat owners supplying Starkist — had asked the cannery to consider a separate price classification for fish caught by US vessels.
Boat owners have asked for law changes as they warned that the continuous decline in albacore prices, the current low catch rate, the increasing cost of fuel, bait and other operating costs have made it financially unfeasible for them to go out fishing.
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