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Surveys to help assess local fishing industry
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Posted on Apr 07 2000
Scott Miller, an agricultural and natural resource economist of the Northern Marianas College CNMI Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service (NMC-CNMI CREES), is conducting surveys of fishermen as part of a project to assess the economic development potential of local offshore fisheries. The main goals of the survey are to find ways to expand local fishing capacity, reduce fishing costs, expand markets, and promote local processing of fishery products.
Mr. Miller’s research revealed that during the 1970s Japanese fishermen were catching more than fifteen million pounds of offshore fish (tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi, billfish, etc.) in the waters surrounding the CNMI. In contrast, CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife data show that local fishermen harvested just over 220,000 pounds of offshore fish in 1996. That is less then percent of the historic catches of the Japanese fleet.
The main reason for the research is to help develop the local fishing industry. Recent amendments to U.S. laws allow the CNMI to pursue the development of a foreign fishery. Foreign fishing vessels could be allowed to fish in the waters of the CNMI if they pay a royalty fee to the CNMI government. Although this approach may seem like a huge revenue source for the CNMI government, Miller states that “a foreign fishery might not provide enough income to offset the costs of managing the foreign vessels and could financially hurt local fishermen.”
The confidential surveys are economic in nature and gather information on such things as operating costs and returns. The project will also benefit local fishermen and researchers, because it gives them direct participation, and provides an anonymous voice for fishermen to share their opinions.
Participation and cooperation in the surveys and fishermen’s meetings by all CNMI fishermen regardless of whether they fish for food, sport, or commercially are the keys to the success of this project. Most surveys will be conducted at the boat ramps on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The project is scheduled for completion in October.
For more information, please contact Mr. Miller at the NMC-CNMI CREES office at 234-5498, Extension 1708.
