The Samoa International Game Fishing Association (S.I.G.F.A.) has re-elected, Michael Rasmussen, as its President.

The appointment was made during its 23rd Annual General Meeting on Saturday.

Mr. Rasmussen said the meeting also served as an opportunity for the President to report on the organisation's annual financial report. 

“We have more than a hundred members which are made up [of] families,” he said.

He said the initial reason for establishing the club was to promote the sport of game fishing as a tourism attraction for Samoa.

The S.I.G.F.A. Secretary, Fritz Rasch, said that they adopted a strategic five year plan that set a roadmap to its long term objectives of growing the club.

“It involves the community on educating and addressing issues impacting Samoa and the pacific; of declining fish stocks both off shore and within the reef, growing the club," he said. 

“We also educate the children on fishing, boat and water safety.

“For us it is not just about fishing it’s about looking after our environment especially the sea and educate the public on the significance of our water resources.”

The president of S.I.G.F.A. added that part of their club’s plan was establishing two Fishing Aggregating Devices.

The devices are designed to attract fish with buoys or floats tethered to the ocean floor.

“We have attained funding to acquire [the devices] so we can install them around Samoa," he said.

"[The] device [...] probably goes out once every weekend it will not only benefit us but also our local fishermen.

“But we urge the local fishermen to be responsible with using these [devices].

"Before [we] employ these devices we will seek permission from the Fisheries division under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.”

He said the fish-attracting devices are expensive to deploy at a cost of up to $15,000. 

The club chose to re-elect other office bearers, including Patrons Tuatagaloa Alfred Schwalger; vice Patrons Seb Kolhase and Pat Brighouse; Vice President Trevor Meredith; and Treasurer Henry Penn.