Division of Fish and Wildlife

1. Division of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Research Section An Update of Fishery Research Projects in the CNMI

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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).

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Thank You Michael Tenorio Email:mtenorio_dfw@live.com Phone:664-6044/285-0427