Ribbon cutting for NMC’s aquaculture center
Northern Marianas College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new CREES Center for Aquaculture Development on Monday.
The facility aims to provide technical assistance to those interested in pursuing aquaculture projects and ventures and to build and expand the CNMI’s aquaculture industry so that it can develop and become a major contributor to the local economy.
Members of the community are invited to tour the facility; to arrange a tour contact Michael Ogo at michael.ogo@marianas.edu. (NMC)
- Northern Marianas College president Dr. Carmen Fernandez, fourth from left, is joined by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog, House Speaker Ralph Demapan, acting Senate president Steven Mesngon, Board of Regents chair Michael Evangelista, regent Elaine Orilla (not shown in photograph), regent Zenie Mafnas, regent Michaela Sanchez, regent Irene Tudela Torres, and regent Juan Lizama in cutting the ceremonial ribbon, which formally opens the CREES Center for Aquaculture Development. (NMC)
- Joe Ayuyu received a plaque of appreciation from Northern Marianas College for donating temporary office space to NMC CREES when CREES offices were damaged by Typhoon Soudelor in 2015. The plaque was presented by BOR chair Mike Evangelista, CREES dean Dr. Tim Kock, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog, and NMC president Dr. Carmen Fernandez. (NMC)
- Dignitaries, including Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang and House and Senate members took a tour of the aquaculture facilities after the ribbon cutting. (NMC)
- CREES Aquaculture manager Michael Ogo explains the different sections of the aquaculture facility to Rep. Donald Barcinas, Rep. Alice Igitol, and Speaker Ralph Demapan. (NMC)
- Rep. John Paul Sablan, Rep. Lee Pan Guerrero, Sid Cabrera, and Rep. Joe Itibus tour the aquaculture facility after the ribbon cutting. (NMC)
- NMC CREES Aquaculture manager Mike Ogo holds a flask containing live microalgae that is used as feed for the rabbitfish. (NMC)
- NMC CREES Aquaculture research assistant Petrus Faimau stands in front of rotifer culture cylinders. The rotifers are used to feed newly hatched rabbit fish larvae; the green color comes from the microalgae. (NMC)