NOAA defends research in Northern Islands

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries official has responded to public views faulting their research as exclusive and against the people of the Commonwealth’s interest.

“We cannot speak to how other research vessels conduct themselves but I can say that whenever NOAA Fisheries conducts research in the area, we notify the appropriate government offices and often include local partners in our projects and on our ships,” said Wende Goo, of NOAA Fisheries Pacific Region’s Communications and External Affairs.

A Commonwealth Ports Authority board member had urged his colleagues to deny the entry of research vessels into the CNMI, in order to protect its interests and resources.

“What scientists normally do, they go up north and do not even tell the mayor of the Northern Islands what they’re going to research and eventually they created the Marine National Monument in 2009,” said CPA board member Benigno Sablan.

He also faulted the lack of revenue made by these visiting vessels and the lack of updates on the kind of research being done or their results.

As recently as last weekend, Dr. Robert Humphreys, of NOAA’s Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, led an open house and presentation on their ongoing research in the Northern Islands.

At the open house at Charlie Dock and the following presentation at the American Memorial Park Auditorium, Humphreys openly discussed the research process of the scientists and crew onboard with parents and children and other members of the public.

His research assists data on fish stocks to gauge their size, longevity, health and vulnerability to fishing.

Humphreys compared his research to similar research he did in the Northern Islands 30 years ago and said “local knowledge” this time around, along with advancements in technology and equipment, helped a lot in getting better results.

Goo said the current cruise has staff from the Commonwealth’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality.

“There is also a local CNMI cooperating fishermen representing the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office as well as an instructor and student from Northern Marianas College,” she said.

Shirley Taitano, a student from NMC, was recently aboard the first leg of the trip.

Humphreys praised her for quickly catching on to the scientific work of processing bottom and reef fish.

Jaime Barlowe, another NOAA scientist on the vessel, said they are engaging students from NMC to be a part of their research.

“We’re here to empower people that are starting out,” he said. (By DENNIS B. CHAN, dennis_chan@saipantribune.com)

The Sette is currently finishing the second leg of its research expedition around the islands of Pagan, Guguan, Sarigan, and Anatahan.