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Fishing exclusion in CNMI waters OK’d
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Posted on Mar 23 2008
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has unanimously voted to establish a 30 nautical mile longline fishing exclusion zone in the exclusive economic zone surrounding the CNMI.
This decision remains on hold, though, after WESPAC failed to give proper notice of the meeting with the Federal Register prior to the event. This means that the Council must redo their March 17-18 meeting all over again.
The Council will meet again in Honolulu to vote anew on all actions items. The new meeting is expected to be shorter, with minimal discussion, full opportunity for public comment, and then voting.
The CNMI Council members and members of the Council advisory committees recommended the 30 nm longline fishing exclusion zone to protect the small scale troll fisheries in the CNMI, simultaneously encouraging the development of a locally-based longline history.
The Council will also meet in June 2008 and consider establishing a control date of March 20, 2008, which may be used in the future to limit further entry of longline vessels to fish around the US EEZ waters surrounding the CNMI.
The Council has also announced its support of the CNMI government’s request that a master-fisherman of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community assist CNMI-based longline vessels in improving their performance and to provide more information on the potential of pelagic resources in the US EEZ surrounding the Marianas Archipelago.
WESPAC concluded its 140th council meeting at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Friday morning.
The Council is the policy-making agency for fisheries management in federal waters surrounding the state of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI, and the US Pacific remote island areas.
Council members 2008 include Department of Lands and Natural Resources secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz and Republican Party Precinct 4 chairman Benigno Sablan.
