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

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
5.3.2.2 Haputo Ecological Reserve Area
The Haputo ERA, also established by the Navy in 1984, totals 102 ha in two distinct areas. The terrestrial
unit (TU) totals 73 ha and was set aside to preserve limestone forests, an important habitat for native
birds (DoN 1986), but also includes two sand beach coves (UNEP/IUCN 1988). The TU encompasses the
area from the shoreline cliff boundary line to the MLW line. The marine unit (MU), with a total of 29 ha of
submerged land, includes Double Reef. The MU extends from the MLW line to the edge of the reef.
Double Reef is one of Guam’s few remaining healthy leeward fringing reefs, and provides a nursery for
marine species of subsistence and commercial fishery value (DoN 1986). Double Reef has also become
a favorite dive location on the island (Rock 1999).
5.3.3 Territory/Commonwealth Designated Marine Managed Areas
Territory/Commonwealth designated MMAs include marine preserves, territorial seashore parks, marine
conservation areas, marine sanctuaries, and marine species reserves. Twelve local MMAs are located in
the Marianas MRA study area and vicinity. Six are located at Guam and six are located in the CNMI.
5.3.3.1 Marine Preserves (Guam)
Guam’s Marine Preserve System is comprised of five marine preserves (Pati Point, Tumon Bay, Piti
Bomb Holes, Sasa Bay, and Achang Reef Flat) that encompass almost 12% of the shoreline (Abraham et
al. 2004; Figure 5-4). Although the Sasa Bay Marine Preserve includes Navy-owned submerged lands,
the DoD does not recognize these lands as part of a designated marine preserve. All types of fishing as
well as shell collecting, the use of gaffs, and the removal of sand and rocks are prohibited in these
preserves. The seaward boundaries of each preserve (excluding Sasa Bay) extend to the 183 m isobath.
The shoreward boundaries are located 10 m inland from the mean high tide mark or along the nearest
public right-of-way, whichever comes first (University of Guam Marine Laboratory 2004). There is a
cooperative agreement between Guam’s Marine Preserve System (Public Law 24-21) and Andersen Air
Force Base (AAFB) that establishes a mirror conservation area at Pati Point (Davis personal
communication; Twenty-Fourth Guam Legislature 1997; Pacific Air Forces 2000; University of Guam
Marine Laboratory 2005). This makes the provisions of the Government Marine Preservation and AAFB
regulations the same. In this particular area, the Government MPA initiative mirrors the Pati Point
Preserve created by AAFB. In other areas of Guam, even though they may overlap with marine
preserves, the submerged lands DoD owns off of its federal lands on Guam are not part of the marine
preserves.
5.3.3.2 Territorial Seashore Parks (Guam)
The Guam Territorial Seashore Park encompasses the land and water area of Guam extending seaward
to the 18 m contour, including all islands within the government's jurisdiction except Cabras Island and
those villages wherein residences have been constructed along the shoreline prior to the effective date of
the Guam Territorial Seashore Protection Act of 1974 (Figure 5-4). The Territorial Seashore Park also
extends inland to the nearer of the following points: (1) from the mean high water line for a distance on a
horizontal plane of 10 m or (2) from the MHW line to the inland edge of the nearest public right-of-way.
5.3.3.3 Marine Protected Areas (CNMI)
The DFW is the Commonwealth-level agency that is in charge of designating and overseeing MMAs in
the CNMI. The purpose of the DFW is to establish and enforce regulations governing hunting, fishing, and
the conservation of the fish and wildlife in the CNMI. The Protected Areas Program of the DFW has
identified six sites as MPAs with the Marianas MRA study area and vicinity. These sites include the
Managaha Marine Conservation Area, Bird Island Marine Sanctuary, Forbidden Island Marine Sanctuary,
Lighthouse Reef Trochus Reserve, Lau Lau Bay Sea Cucumber Reserve, and Sasanhaya Bay Fish
Reserve (Figure 5-4). Each of these MMAs occurs around the island of Saipan except for the Sasanhaya
Bay Fish Reserve, which is found at Rota.
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