DEQ backs stricter regulation on fishing

Division of Environmental Quality Director Ignacio Cabrera has expressed support to a proposed measure which will regulate fishing of certain marine species but emphasized that it should be drafted in such a way that it would respond to the situation in the CNMI.

HB 12-249, which also aims to prohibit or limit certain fishing methods in the Northern Marianas, was initially created for the protection of marine habitats in the Republic of Palau.

Coastal Resources Management acting Director Peter J. Barlas said the passage of the bill is necessary to preserve the islands’ marine resources for future generation. He recommended that the technical contents of the measure be reviewed by the Fisheries Section at the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The DEQ chief said the marine habitats between Palau and the CNMI have significant differences as several species of fish and marine invertebrates mentioned in the bill do not exist in the Northern Marianas waters. This include epinephelus microdon, plectopomus leopardus and tridacna derasa, tridacna gigas. The absence of such species was not a result of extinction but due to geographical differences between the two areas.

In an effort to make it more responsive to the CNMI situation, DEQ as well as the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the Coastal Resources Management can assist in conducting a scientific review of the bill, said Mr. Cabrera in a letter to Rep. Dino Jones, chair of the House Committee on Judiciary , Government Operations and Natural Resources.

DEQ also noted that the population and the total reef area between the CNMI and Palau are very different. The CNMI has about double the population of Palau with about half the reef area.

“Subsistence fishing pressure alone from a larger population on a smaller reef area, without any export, may be more than what the CNMI’s reefs can naturally handle,” Mr. Cabrera said.

Such information can only be evaluated over time as fishing catch per unit efforts are analyzed, and trends are established by the DFW.

While HB 12-249 is a step in the right direction, Mr. Cabrera added that other legislative measures may be required to maintain the reefs that the CNMI is proud to have.

CRM currently regulates development activities to ensure that there’s minimal effect to the marine resources including fish and other aquatic biota . Although he believes that significant impacts to these resources have were due to improper and unethical fishing methods, Mr. Barlas said the CRM office is neither empowered nor has the technical expertise to regulate these activities. (LFR)