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Mariana Archipelago: Regulations and Enforcement
Federal fishing regulations applicable to the Marianas Archipelago are enforced by the NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Pacific Islands Division as well as the U.S. Coast Guard’s District Fourteen. For information on OLE and the U.S. Coast Guard, click here. A cooperative enforcement agreement exists between the DAWR and NMFS OLE and DFW and NMFW OLE, whereby NMFS OLE provides funding assistance to these agencies to support in the enforcement of federal fishing regulations. CNMI fisheries regulations are enforced by conservation officers of the government’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. For further information on DFW, click here. Territorial of Guam fisheries regulations (0 to 3 miles from shore) are enforced by conservation officers of the government’s Department of Agriculture, Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR). For further information on DAWR, click here. Mariana Archipelago: Federal Bottomfish Regulations [top]• All vessels: a) ban on use of bottom trawls and bottom set gillnets; and b) ban on possession or use of any poisons, explosives or intoxicating substances to harvest bottomfish or seamount groundfish • Vessels >50 feet in length landing in Guam: a) federal permit and logbook; b) on-board observer when directed by the National Marine Fisheries Service; and c) ban on anchoring on Guam’s Southern Banks except for a documented emergency or vessel malfunction • Vessels landing in CNMI: a) federal permit and logbook; and b) for vessels 40 feet in length, a ban on fishing 0 to 50 nautical miles offshore CNMI southern islands and 0 to 10 nautical miles offshore the northern island of Alamagan. Click here for list of federally managed bottomfish species. Mariana Archipelago: Federal Crustacean Regulations [top]• Federal permit and logbook • Ban on fishing for, taking or retaining lobster with explosives, poisons or electrical shocking devices • Notification before port landing and before offloading • Observer coverage when requested by National Marine Fisheries Service Click here for list of federally managed crustacean species. Mariana Archipelago: Federal Precious Coral Regulations [top]• One permit for Guam and one for CNMI (same person cannot hold both) • Use of only selective gear that can discriminate or differentiate between type, size, quality or characteristics of living or dead corals • Quota of 1,000 kg each for CNMI and Guam for all species combined (except black coral) • Minimum height 10 inches for live pink coral • Minimum stem diameter 1 inch or minimum height 48 inches for live black coral • Moratorium on gold coral 2008 to 2013 Click here for list of federally managed precious coral species. Mariana Archipelago: Federal Coral Reef Fish Regulations [top]• Special permit, reporting and pre-landing notification for any directed fishery on potentially harvested coral reef taxa • Allowable gear types include hand-harvest, spear, slurp gun, hand/dip net, hoop net for Kona crab, throw net, barrier net, surround/purse net that is attended at all times, hook-and-line, crab and fish traps with vessel ID number affixed or remote operating vehicle/submersible. Special permit, reporting and pre-landing notification requirements apply for the use of other gear types to harvest coral reef ecosystem taxa • Ban on possession and use of poisons, explosives or intoxicating substances to take coral reef ecosystem managed species • Ban on harvest of live rock and living corals except for indigenous people for traditional uses and aquaculture operations for seed stock under special permit, reporting and pre-landing notification requirements • Ban on anchoring on Guam’s Southern Banks except for a documented emergency or vessel malfunction by any vessel >50 feet in length Click here for lists of federally managed coral reef fish regulations Marianas Archipelago FEP MUS
CNMI Fishing Regulations (CNMI Commonwealth Code § 10 – 20)SECTION 10. USE OF EXPLOSIVES, CHEMICALS, POISONS, ELECTRIC SHOCKING DEVICES, SCUBA OR HOOKAH AND DISTURBANCE OF HABITAT 10.1 Prohibitions: The use of explosives, poisons, electric shocking devices, SCUBA or hookah is prohibited in the taking of any fish. a. No person shall use explosives, poisons, electronic shocking devices, SCUBA or hookah while fishing. b. No person shall possess, sell or purchase any fish, game, marine or other aquatic life taken by means prohibited in this Section. 10.2 Exceptions: The use of explosives, poisons, electronic shocking devices, SCUBA or hookah is allowed where used by a Division employee where such use is authorized by the Director or where used pursuant to a scientific collection permit which specifically allows for such use. 10.3 Disruption of Habitat: Disturbance of coral, dead or alive, is prohibited under any circumstances except under emergencies or by persons exempt under Section 30 below. SECTION 20. USE OF NETS FOR FISHING 20.1 Definitions: Monofilament may not be used on any net except talaya, scoop nets, and hand nets. Fishing nets covered by these regulations include but not limited to the following: a. Drag net/Beach seine (Chenchulun and lagua) b. Trap net (Chenchulun managam) c. Surround net (Chenchulun Umesugon) d. Gill net (Tekken) 20.2 Gillnets: The use of gillnets in the waters of the CNMI is prohibited. 20.3 Mesh Size: The use of nets with a stretch mesh measuring less than two and one-half (2-1/2) inches in linear measure is prohibited unless used as or for talaya (throw net or cast net), lagua (scoop or hand net) or when fishing for seasonal runs of atulai (mackerel), Tiao (juvenile goatfish) or manahak (juvenile rabbitfish). 20.4 License Required: A license shall be required for fishing with the use of a net. One fee must be paid for each net to be used for fishing, regardless of whether the nets are of the same type. 20.5 Registration of Nets: Upon licensing of nets, the nets shall be marked by the Division with a registration tag, which will reflect the license number. The license holder shall notify the Division immediately if the registration tag becomes detached from the net. 20.6 Identification of Nets: For all nets other than talaya, scoop nets, and hand nets, each net must be clearly, indelibly and permanently marked with the name and DFW registration number of the net owner. Identification markers must be placed with a minimum of one identification marker for each 10 feet of net. 20.7 Use Restrictions: a. Nets placed in the water shall be tended at all times. b. Placed nets found in violation of these provisions, or without a registration tag or identification marker, shall be confiscated by Conservation Officers and are subject to forfeiture pursuant to 2 CMC Section 5109(f)(3). c. All fish, invertebrates, marine plants not intended for consumption shall be returned to their proper natural habitat, if alive, or disposed of lawfully, if dead. d. Recreational and/or subsistence use of surround nets shall be restricted to 100 meters in length and shall comply with definitions and mesh size requirements pursuant to Section 20.3. e. Disturbance of corals shall not be permitted when fishing with nets. f. All nets or pieces of nets shall be removed from the water after fishing has been completed. 20.8 Abandoned Nets: Abandonment of nets within the waters or coastal zone of the CNMI is prohibited. Nets that are found unattended in the water or within 150 feet of the high water mark on any public beach will be considered abandoned. Permit holders of nets found abandoned may be subject to penalties including: fines, forfeiture of net fishing permit(s), and confiscation of abandoned nets. SECTION 30. COLLECTION OF HARD CORALS 30.1 Prohibitions: The collection and/or removal from the waters of the CNMI of any and all species of hard Hermatypic reef building corals, soft corals or stony hydrozoans, is prohibited, except as specifically allowed by this Section. A license may be issued by the Director for the collection of Dead coral from the beach above the LLW(lower low water) mark for the purpose of manufacturing "Afuk" (calcium carbonate). A license may be issued by the Director for the collection of coral for scientific research purposes. All coral taken by the license may be inspected by the Division to insure that any coral was not taken in violation of these regulations. SECTION 40. HARVEST OF TROCHUS NILOTICUS (ALILING TULOMPO, TROCHUS) 40.1 Harvesting: No trochus may be taken except during open season as declared by the Secretary, after consultation with the Director. Open season may be declared via public announcement and publication in the Commonwealth Register, and may be conditioned in any way, such as season dates and times, size and gear restrictions or seasonal take limits and license requirements. The taking of trochus measuring less than 3" across the base is prohibited. 40.2 Sanctuaries: Two closed areas are hereby established. These areas are designated to insure continuous high levels of productivity of trochus. Taking of trochus from these locations is prohibited, even during seasons declared by the Director. These closed areas are: a. An area encompassing the barrier reef from the Garapan channel marker (light-house) south for one (1) mile. The inshore edge of the reef. The offshore boundary is the forty (40) foot depth contour. b. The entire reef at Tank Beach, Kagman (Chacha), extending from the northern rocky headland to the southern rocky headland and bounded inshore by the mean high mark line and offshore by the forty (40) foot depth contour. SECTION 41. HARVEST OF SEA CUCUMBERS 41.1 Harvesting: No sea cucumber may be taken except as permitted by the Director. Any permit issued by the Director is subject to special conditions as determined by the Director. 41.2 Sanctuaries: In addition to the sanctuaries specified in 40.2, the following areas will also serve as sea cucumber sanctuaries: a. Laolao Bay from Puntan Hakmang to Puntan Dandan. Boundary is from the MHW (mean high water) mark line to offshore to the forty (40) foot depth contour. b. Bird Island from Puntan I Maddock to Puntan Tangke. Boundary is from MHW (mean high water) mark line to offshore to the forty (40) foot depth contour. SECTION 50. TAKING OF LOBSTER 50.1 Prohibitions: It shall be prohibited and deemed unlawful to take or to be in possession of any lobster: a. Which measures less than three (3) inches (76.2 mm) in length measured in a straight line along the carapace from the ridge between the two (2) largest spines above the eyes, back to the rear edge of the carapace; or b. Which is carrying eggs; or c. Which has been stripped of her eggs; or d. Harvested by spear or any method other than by hand. 50.2 Sanctuaries as specified in 40.2 apply here. SECTION 51. HARVEST OF OTHER INVERTEBRATES 51.1 Harvesting: No other invertebrates may be taken except as permitted by the Director. Any permit issued by the Director is subject to special conditions as determined by the Director. 51.2 Sanctuaries: Sanctuaries specified in 40.2 apply to other invertebrates. 51.3 Prohibitions: The exportation of any species of the following groups of marine gastropods (snails), or any part or product thereof, taken from CNMI water is prohibited:
SECTION 60. FISH WEIRS The use of fish weirs is prohibited. SECTION 70. MORATORIA ON FISHING The purpose of this section is to provide for the conservation of fishery resources. The Director is authorized to declare a moratorium on any and all fishing activity to conserve CNMI resources, through publication of such a moratorium in the Commonwealth Register. A moratorium on issuance of fishing licenses may be imposed when necessary to protect fish, Threatened or Endangered species or to otherwise carry out the functions of the Division as established by the CNMI Legislature. SECTION 80. AQUARIUM FISH PROHIBITIONS 80.1 The sale or export of marine aquarium fish is prohibited. 80.2 An aquarium fish license is required by any person who captures aquarium fish for personal use or enjoyment. 80.3 No poisons may be used to collect aquarium fish, except for purposes of scientific research when a scientific research permit expressly allows for such use. 80.4 All methods of collection of aquarium fish are prohibited except for the following: a. Certain hand nets not previously registered by Conservation Officer. b. Small surround nets (less than 8 meters in length); c. Barbless hook and line; and
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The Mariana
Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) contains federal 