Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Cannery in America Samoa extends shutdown

Posted at 22:44 on 04 May, 2006 UTC

Samoa Packing has extended its shutdown for the whole week because of inadequate fish supplies.

The cannery in American Samoa was supposed to cease production for just Monday and Tuesday this week.

But its general manager Herman Gebauer says they are now closed for the remainder of the week because there’s no fish.

He says several fishing boats which were expected in port by now have delayed their arrival.

Workers have now been told that production will resume Monday.

The cannery employs about 2000 workers and they will be without paychecks this week, putting a dent into the local economy.

Meanwhile, Star Kist Samoa suspended its day shift yesterday because of the tsunami warning.

The second shift was not interrupted.