DLNR prods Teno to approve bill on Managaha conservation

The Department of Lands and Natural Resources has urged Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to approve a proposed measure designating Managaha Island and its surrounding waters as a marine conservation area.

However, DLNR Secretary Joaquin A. Tenorio expressed concern over the creation of the office of the superintendent which shall oversee the operations and maintenance of the conservation area on grounds that contradicts Section 3 of Public Law 2-51, which gives full responsibility of the day to day administration as well as enforcement to the director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Earlier, Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Richard B. Seman has pledged his support for the legislation which he said is needed to ensure that the marine resources of the Commonwealth are adequately protected through conservation efforts.

Mr. Seman believes that the DFW, which manages and conserves marine resources through its Fisheries Section, will be able to oversee the Managaha Marine Conservation Area and other marine conservation areas that may be established in the future.

Similarly, he raised some problems over the requirement that the staff of the newly-created Marine Conservation Section be solely dedicated to the administration of marine conservation areas.

“I believe that it would be a better use of staff resources to be able to train all of the Division’s Conservation Officers in the enforcement of the marine conservation area rules and regulations rather than having Conservation Officers who could only work on marine conservation area issues,” Mr. Seman said.

By having access to other Division staff, Mr. Seman said it would be easier to provide the 24-hour enforcement of the marine conservation area needed at a lower cost.

Earlier, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers assured local people that Managaha is not going to sink as the erosion occurring in some parts of the island is just part of a natural process.

In 1998, CRM expressed fears that the erosion in Managaha might continue as some officials in the government already recommended the construction of a form of protection. The U.S. Army Corps will conduct a study to document the wave and tide movement to help environment officials in monitoring the island.