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Marine team studies water around Managaha
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Posted on Jun 04 1999
The CNMI’s Marine Monitoring Team (MMT) spent last week studying the waters around Managaha Island, compiling information that may be used to establish portions of the Saipan lagoon as a conservative area.
The MMT is an inter-agency scuba team that studies the health of the CNMI’s marine waters.
“It was requested that the MMT other some base line data on the health of the water and reefs near Managaha,” explained Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Ignacio V. Cabrera. “No decisions are being made right now as to what to do with the are. We are just putting together some information that will hopefully help island residents and lawmakers make decisions later.”
CNMI Rep. Heinz Hofschneider has been concerned about the preservation of Managaha and requested the MMT’s assistance last month.
“There is a tremendous need to protect and preserve these corals,” said Hofschneider. The legislator will use the base line data currently being collected as part of legislation to make Managaha and its surrounding waters the first-ever CNMI marine park. “Regulating, preserving and enforcing this area as a conservation area will allow the breeding of many types of fish that have been depleted in recent years,” said Hofschneider. “This will benefit local people and enhance tourism in the area.”
The MMT has been using a technique known as the Point Intercept Quadrant method to gather data. This approach involves the use of the grid, which is randomly thrown underwater. The diver then records the percentage of live coral coverage that falls under the grid and also notes the amount of sand, rock, and dead coral as well.
The diver then picks up the grid, kicks off fifteen strokes and tosses the grid again. “This method is good for getting some accurate data over a large area in a relatively short amount of time,” said Cabrera.
This week, the Division of Fish & Wildlife takes the lead as a fish survey is conducted. The Marine Monitoring Team is comprised of staff from Hofschneider’s office, DEQ, Coastal Resources Management and DFW.
