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Summer courses teach students about CNMI’s marine resources
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Posted on Jul 09 2008
The Coral Reef Conservation Program has opened an opportunity for high school students to learn about the Commonwealth’s marine resources as a means to make them more active in managing and developing the local fishing industry.
Eight high school students on Saipan took up summer courses at the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Fishery Compound Building in Lower Base from June 30 to July 11, 2008, at 8:30 am – 3:30pm, Monday to Friday.
“This is the first time that we have a program like this, but we are looking to have more and to start having this program every year,” said course coordinator Richard Seman.
The goal is to help high school students learn of local marine resources and to have them more actively involved in the management and development of a sustainable fishing industry in the Commonwealth. Also, the courses aimed to have high school students understand the dynamics of sustainability and how to achieve it progressively.
Students learned many things during the two-week sessions, including fish biology and habitat, coral reef, cultural and traditional fishing, fishing gear and techniques, seafood safety and handling, fish cleaning and preparation, fisheries economics and marketing, fishery data and creel sampling, fisheries research, fisheries conservation and management, fishing rules and regulations, marine preserves / sanctuaries, fisheries enforcement program, and first aid and CPR certifications.
About 20 presenters have volunteered to provide valuable instruction on their respective expertise. Some presenters are marine biologists, resources managers, fishermen, regulatory enforcement officers, fish processors, environmental specialists, cultural practitioners, community and social relief volunteers, and statisticians.
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce, sponsored the summer courses.
For more information, contact Jack Ogumoro at the Department of Lands and Natural Resources at 322-9830, or Seman 687-2772, or email marfishmag@gmail.com.
