WESPAC convenes on Saipan for 153rd meeting

Members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council convened Monday for the start of the council’s 153rd meeting on fishery updates and issues that affect the region’s fishery resources.

Yesterday’s meeting, held at the Hibiscus Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan, was attended by several government officials led by acting governor Eloy S. Inos, who thanked the council for conducting the meeting in the CNMI as part of its decision to meet regularly in various island jurisdictions.

The program began with Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao welcoming council members and guests with a Refaluwasch chant.

In his remarks, Inos said the council has been “the voice” of indigenous and remote island communities in regards to federal ocean resource issues such as the Magnuson-Stevens Act, coastal and marine spatial planning.

“Some discussions are made thousands of miles away without participation from our island areas,” said Inos. “The council has been a forum and an organization to advocate for our local community perspectives.”

Inos cited the importance of establishing annual catch limits that accurately reflect “the truth about our resources,” taking into consideration the proper management of resources without imposing unnecessary restrictions on subsistence or small-scale commercial fishermen.

“We look to the council to help us ensure that the federal government does the necessary monitoring, scientific research, and analysis to determine the right harvest levels,” he added.

Council chair Manuel Dueñas of the Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association supervised the meeting with CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Arnold Palacios and council executive director Kitty Simonds, who was the first to deliver her report.

Just before lunch break, the council handed out awards to the students who won in the 2012 Art Contest.

Council communications officer Sylvia Spalding said they have been conducting the competition every year since 2007. Winning entries are featured in both the Chamorro and Refaluwasch lunar calendars published by the council and NOAA.

This year’s theme was “Climate Change Impacts on the Islands,” which was centered on how indigenous knowledge and practices can help island communities adapt to and survive the effects of this phenomenon.

The theme was also in preparation for the First Stewards Symposium on Climate Change in Washington, D.C. this July.

Winners for the Grades K-2 division, who were all from Grace Christian Academy, were Karina Dilse, 1st prize; Clerisse Dacumos, 2nd prize; and Richard Steele, 3rd prize.

For Grades 3-5, winners were Jaden Yamagata-Santos and Mary Jane Domingo, 1st and 2nd placers, respectively and both from Oleai Elementary School; and Britney Joy Y. Atalig, 3rd placer from Sinapalo Elementary School.

Grades 6-8 winners were Maria Reyes, 1st place, Hopwood Jr. High School; Kloe Borja, 2nd place, Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School; and Craig Aguon, 3rd place also from HJHS.

Grades 9-12 winners were all from Marianas High School: Hannah Alcordo, 1st place; Mon Morera, 2nd place; and Haeri Kim, 3rd place.

MHS teacher Wesley Foster, who accompanied the winning high school students, praised the council for giving the students an opportunity to join a contest where they learn about pressing issues like climate change. “It’s vital that they understand what the Fishery Council is trying to promote—especially among the young ones now because they’re the future generation and what’s happening around the world will affect us,” he said.

The 153rd Council meeting will continue on Saipan today before members fly to Guam tomorrow and resume the meeting at the Guam Hilton on March 8 and 9.