StarKist still 'committed' to American Samoa plant despite challenges

US tuna firm StarKist & Co will remain committed to its processing operation in the territory of American Samoa despite continuing challenges with rising labor costs, the availability of fish and the departure of vessels, Radio New Zealand reported.

Andrew Choe, the company's president and chief executive officer, recently told American Samoa's governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga, that StarKist remains "committed" to the territory despite those challenges and the pressures of the globally competitive tuna market.

StarKist has been facing other pressures too. The American Samoa plant recently said it will pay $84,500 in stipulated penalties for repeatedly discharging wastewater into Pago Pago Harbour,

This is not the first federal fine StarKist has agreed to pay this year; on April 10, Undercurrent News reported that the firm had tentatively agreed to a fine of at least $50m for its participation in a conspiracy to fix canned tuna prices.

Read more: https://www.undercurrentnews.com/2019/04/29/starkists-still-committed-to-american-samoa-plant-despite-challenges/