Division of Fish and Wildlife
Fisheries Research Section
An Update of Fishery Research Projects
in the CNMI
Fishery Activities in the CNMI
Bottom Fishery
Fishing gear/method -Hook & line, Handline (tupak)
Deep water > 125m - Onaga, Ehu, Lehi, Kalikali,
Opaka paka
Shallow water-Deep Coral Reef 30-125m - Emperor,
Grouper, Snappers
Pelagic Fishery
Fishing gear/method - Trolling, Vertical longline,
Horizontal longline
Targeted species – Tunas (Skipjack, Yellowfin, Bigeye),
Wahoo, Mahi, Marlin
Fishery Activities Continued..
Coral Reef Fishery
Multi-gear/method- Cast net, Hook & line, Spear, Sling,
Gleaning etc.
Multi-species complex – Emperor, Parrotfish, Surgeonfish,
Snappers, Goatfish, Rabbitfish, Jacks, Groupers, Mullets,
Wrasse, etc.
Reef Invertebrates – Octopus, Squids, Cuttlefishs, Clams,
Lobsters, Snails, Urchins, Sea cucumbers
Deepwater Invertebrates
Fishing Gear – Trap
Species - Deepwater shrimp
DFW Fisheries Monitoring Efforts
There are two types of monitoring effort
within the CNMI.
Example 1: Fishery dependent information
are collected from fishing activities.
(Fishermen, Vendors, Fishing Vessels)
Example 2: Fishery independent information
are collected from non-fishing activities.
(UVC, Social surveys, Trawl line, Acoustic
surveys)
Fishery Dependent Surveys
Shore-based Creel Program
• Captures information on nearshore
landings
• Monitors reef fishery for subsistence and
commercial fishing activities
• Limited by sample area
Advances in the Shore-based Creel Program
• Expansion survey efforts to Tinian and
Rota.
• Collaboration with
WPRFMC/NOAA/Island Agencies to
improve monitoring program.
• Incentive program to increase
participation.
Fishery Dependent Surveys continued..
Boat-based Creel Program
• Captures information on vessel landings
• Monitors Reef, Pelagic and Bottom
fishery for commercial and subsistence
• Limited by sample area
Progress in the Boat-based Creel Program
• Exploratory survey on Rota to determine
the feasibility.
• Improved incentive program to increase
fishermen participation.
• Improved education and outreach effort
to familiarize the community.
Fishery Dependent Surveys continued..
Ticket Receipt System
• Captures information on Market sales
• Monitors sales of Pelagic, Bottom and
Reef fisheries
• Limited by sample area and vendor
participation
Progress in the Ticket Receipt System
• Law has been passed.
• Regulation are being developed.
• Working on improving participation by
vendors.
Fishery Dependent Surveys continued..
Exemption Surveys
• Captures information on net permitted
net fishing activities in the Saipan
lagoon.
• Collects information on species length,
count, weight, composition.
• Focuses only on exemption activity.
Exemption Surveys Advancement
• Data quality control are being
performed.
• A manuscript is being developed.
• Working on improving sampling
methods.
Fishery Dependent Surveys continued..
Market Sampling (In collaboration with NMFS/MES)
• Information on market sales and
purchases are collected.
• Monitors fish species being sold by
fishermen.
• Limited by sampling parameters(time,
participation, sample area)
Market Sampling Progress
• Improvement in vendor participation.
• Improvement in sampling regime.
• Staff training.
• Working on manuscript.
Fishery Dependent Surveys continued..
Life History Survey (with NMFS/MES)
• Captures biological information on certain
species (reproductive cycle, age at length, age
at maturity).
• Monitors Reef and Bottom Fishery Limited by
time.
• Generates estimates on reproductive behaviors
of fish.
Advancement of the Life History Survey
• Expansion of survey to other species (C.
trilobatus, S. ghobban, S. argenteus (MES), M.
flavolineatus (MES)).
• Working on getting collections analyzed on
current samples (S. rubroviolaceus, P. auricilla
and P. flavipinnis).
Fishery Independent Surveys
Marine Protected Area Surveys
• Collects information on resources in the MPA’s
• Monitors diversity and abundance
• Information is limited to MPA’s
Progress in Marine Protected Area Surveys
• A draft manuscript for the Rota MPA is being
developed.
• A data base for the management of fishery
independent data has been developed.
• Data from each MPA are being reviewed for
consistency.
• Procurement of new survey equipment for
confirmation of fish identification and
counts.
Fishery Independent Surveys Continued..
Lagoon Surveys
• Collected information on fish resources in
the Saipan southern lagoon
• Information on abundance, diversity and
size estimates were collected.
• Information is limited to southern lagoon
of Saipan.
Progress in Lagoon Surveys
• Data is being analyzed in collaboration
with NOAA PIFSC.
• A manuscript is being developed for this
project.
• A preliminary technical report has been
drafted for this research project.
Fishery Independent Surveys Continued..
MARAMP (Collaboration with NOAA CRED)
• Collects census information on Reef
resources in the CNMI
• Surveys were conducted in 2003,2005,
2007, 2009 and 2011
• Reports were developed from this work.
Progress in the MARAMP
• Surveys are being conducted currently
(March- June 2014)
• Reports will be developed from this
recent work.
Fishery Independent Surveys Continued..
Invertebrate Surveys
• Collects information on reef
associated inverts
• Monitors sea cucumber and trochus
abundances
• Survey is limited to Saipan
Progress in Invertebrate Surveys
• Collects information on reef associated
inverts will be performed during the
MARAMP.
• A study on Kona crab presence and
abundance within the CNMI will be
conducted this summer.
• A report was published on the harvest of
sea cucumbers in the CNMI.
Thank You
Michael Tenorio
Email:mtenorio_dfw@live.com
Phone:664-6044/285-0427