Sette sets off for the Northern Islands

Research vessel Oscar Elton Sette arrived on Saipan yesterday and immediately departed soon after to begin its journey to the Northern Islands to study the underwater riches of the Marianas archipelago.

The vessel left Saipan yesterday at 2pm with a total of 20 scientists from Hawaii and Guam, including eight local environmental officers in the CNMI. The trip, called the 2005 Mariana Archipelago Research and Monitoring Program cruise, is the second visit to the islands by Sette scientists.

Sette’s chief scientist Robert Schroeder said their first trip to the islands three years ago was very overwhelming due to the richness of the CNMI’s coral reef environment. “The island of Rota is so rich, too,” he said.

In spite of the media release saying so, Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego Benavente were not able to visit the research vessel as both officials were in Guam for official business. The local government sent governor’s adviser Adam Turner instead, who extended “good luck” wishes to the entire crew.

Schroeder said that the ship was supposed to dock on the island last Tuesday but the rough waves caused by Typhoon Nabi delayed their journey to Saipan.

MARAMP is a multi-agency effort and is sponsored by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

Coral Outreach specialist Qamar Schuyler earlier said that this year, the scientists aboard Sette will revisit the underwater sites they explored two years ago to recover instruments that were left behind to gather valuable data, and monitor any changes that might have occurred over the last two years. Using different techniques, the expedition aims to study the coral, fish, algae, and benthic habitats around most of the islands and offshore banks of the archipelago.

She said the team would also collect oceanographic data such as sea temperature and water chemistry. Sette is heading to the islands of Anatahan, Guguan, Pagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Maug, Agrihan, Almaagan, and Sarigan. It will also stop by the Supply Reef and Zelandia Bank.

Schroeder said they would be back on Saipan on Sept. 19 and, on succeeding days, the scientists would also study the islands of Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan, and Rota. They will also visit Pathfinder Reef and Arakane Reef, he said.

Schroeder said this year’s journey could be followed online. He said the public would be able to follow the adventures of the ship and share in new and exciting discoveries by visiting the website www.crm.gov.mp/maramp. The website would provide more information about the scientists on board, daily updates and photos from the field.

Schuyler is inviting the community to check out the special features on the web and post questions for the scientists and crew. She said there would be a teacher resource section with links for teachers, including lesson plans, helpful web sites, and a list of local classroom speakers.

For more information about the cruise or specifics about the scientific studies, contact Schuyler or John Moreno, at (670) 664-8320 or email John.Moreno@crm.gov.mp.

Photos and video from last year’s cruise are also available upon request.