Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
Annual trolling activity (trips and hours) increased from 1982 and peaked in 1996, but has decreased
since (Figure 4-10). Additionally, the numbers of trolling vessels and charter trips have continued to
decline since 1996 (WPRFMC 2004c).
x 1000
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Trolling trips Trolling hours
82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03
Years
Figure 4-10. Annual trolling trips (1000) and hours (1000) on Guam from 1982 through 2003.
Source: PIFSC (2004).
Several factors have negatively impacted the fisheries of Guam, including the Asian market decline, a
decrease in tourism, and a decrease in outside capital investments. These factors coupled with rising fuel
and boat maintenance costs, declining government finances, and environmental variations, such as El
Niño events, have caused locals to turn to alternative sources of income. Pelagic fishing (specifically
tuna) has provided additional income and resulted in the introduction of FADs. Tuna species are regularly
taken using FADs in the waters surrounding Guam; however, no FADs are located within the Marianas
MRA study area (DAWR 2004; WPRFMC 2004c; DFW CNMI 2005).
CNMI—The pelagic fishery in CNMI occurs from the island of FDM south to the island of Rota. Similar to
Guam, the pelagic fishery is comprised of small, day-trolling boats (PIFSC 2004). Approximately 74% of
the registered boats on the islands participate in some form of fishing activity (PIFSC 2004). Twenty-six
charter vessels were registered with the Boating Safety Office in 2003. Charter vessels generally retain
their catch, selling over half of it to local fish markets. No logbook system is currently in place. CNMI has
seen an increase in boat numbers in recent years; about 70% of those are used in the commercial
fisheries. In 2003, about 55 vessels were identified as being involved in full-time commercial fishing and
41 vessels were classified as part-time (WPRFMC 2004c). The pelagic fishing fleet, not including charter
boats, consists of small (4 to 7 m) outboard powered boats with a limited (approximately 32 km) travel
radius from the islands. Trolling is the most common fishery, with skipjack tuna making up the majority of
the catch. Yellowfin tuna and dolphinfish are also harvested; during their seasonal runs, they can be
found close to shore and are easy targets for local fishermen. Popularity of these species has increased
due to the fact that Saipan’s population is made up of over half non-native people (PIFSC 2004). All
production from the domestic commercial fishery is consumed locally. No large-scale longline or purse
seine activity occurs around the Northern Mariana Islands (Simonds 2003). Annual commercial catch of
skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and dolphinfish has varied dramatically from 1981 to 2003, with no
discernable pattern (Figure 4-11).
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