Obyan Beach: Keep it safe, clean, beautiful

Obyan Beach is a popular recreation site, and it is easy to see why. Located in the southern part of Saipan, Obyan has a lot to offer its visitors. For people that just want to get away, it is a serene place to relax and be close to nature. Many birds such as the collared kingfisher (sihek) or the Pacific reef heron (chuchuko atilong) are often encountered there. There are numerous shade and fruit trees along the beach such as the coconut palm, and tasty sea grapes (Coccoloba uvifera). As a popular dive site, Obyan offers unique encounters with various marine animals such as sharks, barracudas, garden snake eels, and it is a known nesting site for the threatened Green sea turtle. It is also a place of historic importance. Obyan Beach is the location of an ancient latte stone village of the same name, and a World War II coastal defense bunker. Remnants of both are still found there today.

Idyllic as it sounds, Obyan does have its share of problems. Parked vehicles are often burglarized and vandalized there. To try to curtail this problem, the Marianas Visitors Authority, in coordination with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, posted a new sign to divert visitors to an improved parking site that is watched by a security guard.

Obyan is often the site of illegal beach driving and parking. Just this past weekend, there were numerous vehicles parked on the beach away from the new improved parking area. Most of the drivers were not even aware that it is illegal to drive or park on the beach. Most were not aware of the “Walk it, don’t drive it” campaign that is advertised every time you watch a movie at Wallace Theaters, or haven’t seen newspaper articles about the campaign. For those who are unaware, or just need a reminder why you shouldn’t drive on the beach, just remember the word DRIVE. Each letter stands for a reason you shouldn’t drive on the beach. Deposits of oil and gasoline on the shoreline run off into the water, threatening marine life; Ruts in the sand destroy turtle nesting sites; it is Illegal for unauthorized vehicles to drive on the beach; and driving there destroys VEgetation that prevents erosion and filters pollutants.

Garbage and littering is another problem that seems to be increasing at Obyan Beach. People are careless with the things they bring to the beach. They remember to bring what they need, but often forget that they need to take these things back when they leave. A careless moment could last generations. A foam cup tossed at the beach stays in the environment for 50 years. Soft drink or beer cans can be around for 200 years. Beach or ocean litter, otherwise known as marine debris, is unsightly, unhealthy, dangerous, and can injure or kill marine life. Enjoy the beach but leave only footprints.

Obyan Beach also experiences severe erosion during storms and typhoons. The sedimentation that this causes threatens to smother and destroy the coral reefs in the area. Because of this problem, Obyan Beach has been targeted as a prime site for improvements lead by the Coastal Resources Management Office in conjunction with the Lau Lau Watershed Restoration Project. Stay tuned to the Environmental Page for more information about this project.

There are many reasons why Obyan Beach is a popular recreation site on Saipan, and it is for those same reasons that it should be protected. So “Walk it, don’t drive it”, CNMI, and keep Obyan Beach safe, clean, and beautiful! (John Dax Moreno)

John Dax Moreno is the CRMO Outreach and Education Coordinator.