1. A N O VERVIEW OF M ARINE P ROTECTED A REAS IN THE C OMMONWEALTH OF THE N ORTHERN M ARIANA I SLANDS

2. M ARINE P ROTECTED A REAS (MPA S ) What is an MPA? Is a broad term used to cover marine areas which have some level of management for the protection of living, non-living, cultural and/or historical resources

3. W HAT ARE THE TYPES OF MPA’ S ? No take MPA’s All organisms living or non-living Species specific MPA’s Certain fish Inverts Algae Limited activity MPAs Recreational use MPA (no extractive activity) Limited gear use MPA (only certain gears allowed) Closed areas (no access)

4. W HAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MPA’ S Create an environment where resources are allowed to recover. Restrict activities which damages resources, historical and/or cultural sites in a given area. (anchoring, diving, fishing, etc.) Allow fish to recover and replenish areas adjacent to the MPA.

5. W HAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MPA’ S CONT. General Perspective: MPAs --> Less Fishing Pressure --> Larger Fish - -> Increased Reproduction--> More Fish --> Competition for Space --> Fish Move to Other Areas --> More Larger Fish on the Plate, or to Admire.

6. Throughout the CNMI Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Saipan: 5 MPA’s Tinian: 1 MPA Rota:1 MPA W HERE ARE THE MPA’ S L OCATED ?

7. Established in 2009 Presidential Proclamation 8335 Three Management Units Island Units ( Uracas, Maug, Asuncion ) Volcanic Units ( Volcano, Thermal vents ) Trench Units ( Benthic habitats ) Mariana Trench Marine National Monument

8. Managaha Marine Conservation Area Established in 1999 through PL 12-12 Management plan developed in 2005 No-Take High recreational use area

9. Bird Island Sanctuary Established through PL 12-46 No-Take Marine management plan developed in 2007 Grotto dive site

10. Forbidden Island Sanctuary Established through PL 12-46 No-Take Inclusive of Tank beach Marine management plan established in 2007

11. Lighthouse Trochus Reserve Designated for Trochus niloticus (Aliling tulompo) All other activities are permitted Current moratorium on the harvest of Trochus

12. Laulau Bay Sea cucumber Reserve Established to protect all species of sea cucumber All other activities are permitted in the area Moratorium for Sea cucumbers is still in effect

13. Tinian Fish Reserve Established in 2007 (PL 15-90) Revised in 2010 (PL 17-14) Limited fishing reserve (Atulai, E’e’ and Ti’ao)

14. Sasanhaya Bay Fish Reserve Established through RLL 9-2 No-take Established in 1994 Dive sites (Coral gardens, Shoun Maru, Ponia point)

15. Q UESTIONS ??

16. T HANK YOU S I YU ’ US M A ’ ASI O LOOMWAY