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Illegal fishing reported on Forbidden Island
A report to a lawmaker claims a Korean tour group has been doing illegal fishing practices in one of Saipan’s major tourist attractions.
Reports to Rep. Ed Propst (Ind-Saipan) claims that LaVista Tours has been conducting illegal fishing practices several times in the Forbidden Island Marine Sanctuary area.
LaVista Tours is a Korean-owned tour group in Chalan Piao that has been offering tour packages around the island.
A video and some photos have been posted on social media, showing people (unclear whether tourists or not), with one holding what appears to be a speargun in his hands while in the water. The video shows a man equipped with the same object as he gets out of the water.
The people in the video were wearing red life vests with “LAVISTA TOUR” clearly written on the back.
Saipan Tribune visited the tour group company, which denied the allegations.
“We don’t know. It is not part of our tour offers. We don’t know and we are suffering a lot because of these people spearfishing under the LaVista name,” said Sandy Cheung of LaVista Tour.
“We just heard of this news today, we know nothing. We only arrange tours for sightseeing and hiking in the Forbidden Island area, but no spearfishing,” added Cheung.
Propst reported the matter to Division of Fish and Wildlife director Manny Pangelinan, who said more information would be available after their investigation.
Public Law 12-46 considers Forbidden Island and Bird Island sanctuaries since April 2001. Both sites are “no-take” protected areas, meaning feeding, extracting, and damaging of fish is prohibited. Also included in the protection is the removal and damaging of sand and corals within the Forbidden Island area.
