CORAL REEF FISHERIESIN THE CNMI

Department of Lands and Natural ResourcesDivision of Fish and Wildlife

Saipan, CNMI, USA

HABITAT INFORMATION

CNMI identifies two portions of coral reef habitats, 0-3 miles from shore and 3-200 miles from shore (off shore banks)

Activity in the coral reef fishery is expanding to the Northern Islands.

FISHING METHODS

• Cast net (Talaya)Cast net (Talaya)Usually used along sandy shores, on reefs and shallow areas in the lagoon.

• Rod and ReelRod and ReelMost fishing occurs off piers, boats, shore line, reef line and cliffs

• GleaningGleaningFish would be harvested by sifting through sand, rubble, sea grass or picked by hand off the reef

FISHING METHODS CONT.• SpearSpear

Most harvests occur within the lagoon or near the fore reef between 5 and 25 feet of depth. Two types of spears are used, spear gun (mostly day time) or the Hawaiian sling (mostly night time).

• Hook and LineHook and LineAll types of hook and line except rod and reel.Examples are: Traba (traditional method), hand lines, baited hooks and Pisao (bamboo pole).

• Net (drag, surround, gill)Net (drag, surround, gill)No longer allowed in the CNMI

SPECIES CAUGHT• Cast net (Talaya)Cast net (Talaya)

Shore line fishing: mainly targeting juvenile Goat fish, Mullets, Rabbit fish and Jacks.Reef line fishing: targeted species are; adult Surgeons, Unicorn fish, Rudder fish and Goat fish.

• Rod and ReelRod and ReelShore line casting: targeted species are juvenile Jacks, adult Emperors, Wrasse, Scad, Rudder and Goat fishCliff Fishing: mainly Snappers, Groupers, Jacks, Job fish, and Emperors. Off shore: Emperors, Snappers, Groupers, Job fish, Wrasse and Scads.

SPECIES CAUGHT CONT.• GleaningGleaning

Shore line: targeted species are Clams, Snails, Crabs, Urchins and Sea cucumbersReef line: main targets are Octopus, Clams, Snails, Sea cucumber and Urchins.

• SpearSpearSling/Spear: main target species are adult Soldier fish, Wrasse, Surgeons, Parrots, Goats, Rabbit fish, and Unicorn.

SPECIES CAUGHT CONT.• Hook and LineHook and Line

Trap (traba): target species are larger emperors and snappers.Hand line: Similar species caught with rod and reel.

• Net (drag, surround, gill..)Net (drag, surround, gill..)All harvests with nets consists of Emperors, Goats, Rabbits, Mullets, Jacks, Surgeons, Groupers, Soldiers, Wrasse, Rudder fish, Unicorn fish and Snappers.

DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS

• BoatBoat--based creel survey (minimal reef fish data based creel survey (minimal reef fish data captured)captured)

• Sampling of large vessels returning from Sampling of large vessels returning from northern islands (generally deep bottomfish)northern islands (generally deep bottomfish)

• Reef fish visual surveys (mostly in MPA’s)Reef fish visual surveys (mostly in MPA’s)

• Commercial purchase “ticket” system (not Commercial purchase “ticket” system (not species or method specific)species or method specific)

• Seafood air import dataSeafood air import data

CHALLENGES• Many methods of reef fishing• Fishing occurs throughout all

inhabited islands at no specific time or location

• Lack of man power• No current reef fish or inshore creel

program• Insufficient funding

RECOMENDATIONS

• requires a significant increase in both technical and professional staff, as well as a significant increase in funding

• implement legislation requiring reporting: to provide fisheries data staff the mandate to legally obtain fishery data

RECOMMENDATIONS CONT…

• Implement other methods of data collection (inshore creel survey).

• Development of data collection protocols for the coral reef fisheries

THANK YOU