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

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
Protected species data sources not represented or available for use in this MRA
Marine mammal stranding networks are under the jurisdiction of the NMFS and are nominally based
on its distinct administrative regions (Geraci and Lounsbury 1993). Wilkinson and Worthy (1999)
discuss the genesis of marine mammal stranding networks in the U.S. Legal authority for stranding
networks is contained in the MMPA. In the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Act (in
the 1992 Amendments to the MMPA), Congress made it a national policy to monitor the various
factors affecting the health of marine mammal populations. Collection and analyses of stranded
marine mammals have contributed much to what is known about each species (Becker et al. 1994).
The NMFS assumes regional coordination over marine mammal strandings in the U.S. Pacific Islands
(Hawai’i, American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI). Stranding data for the Marianas MRA study area
were received from Mr. Bradley Ryon of the NMFS-PIRO as part of a stranding data package for the
Hawaiian Islands MRA. However, none of these data were used in this MRA as all the stranding
records received were already available from the scientific literature. In fact, there were more
stranding records available from the scientific literature than the NMFS-PIRO was able to provide.
Since marine mammal strandings in the U.S. Pacific Islands are often responded to on a case-bycase
basis, oftentimes by a local marine resource or wildlife authority in consultation with the NMFS
(Nitta 1991), stranding data were also requested from the CNMI DFW. The CNMI DFW documents
marine mammal strandings in its area of jurisdiction, yet no data were received from this agency.
The North Pacific Right Whale Database is a review of all available twentieth century records of this
species in the North Pacific Ocean. There have been a total of 1,965 recorded sightings since 1900;
of these 988 came from the western North Pacific, 693 from the eastern North Pacific, and 284 had
no location specified. Thirteen strandings (all but one from the western North Pacific) were recorded.
Known catches for commercial or scientific purposes totaled 742 (331 in the western North Pacific,
411 in the eastern North Pacific). Overall, the data support the hypothesis that at least two stocks of
right whales exist in the North Pacific (Brownell et al 2001). This database was provided by Ms.
Caroline Good (Duke University) with the permission of Dr. Phillip Clapham (NMFS-Northeast
Fisheries Science Center [NEFSC]); however, none of the records in this database were documented
in the Marianas MRA study area and vicinity.
Humpback whale research (e.g., photo-identification) in the western North Pacific Ocean is
coordinated by the Ogasawara Marine Center. Yamaguchi et al. (2002) mentioned that sighting
surveys were conducted in the water of the Mariana Islands in 1995 and 1996. Records from these
surveys, which are likely available from Manami Yamaguchi, were not requested for use in this MRA.
The Fisheries Agency of Japan has conducted systematic whale sighting surveys in the western
North Pacific since 1983. During the winter of 1994, Kanki-maru No. 38 surveyed the area from 7° to
25°N and 123° to 150°E, which is in the near vicinity of the Marianas archipelago (Miyashita et al.
1996), but outside of the map view for the Marianas MRA study area.
Mr. Bob Odell, owner of Blue Ocean Visions, collected marine mammal sighting information for Guam
from 1995 through 2001. While his information was useful for determining spinner dolphin occurrence
around Guam, neither geographic locations (e.g., coordinates or good physical descriptions) nor
dates could be provided. As a result, these data were not included in the maps in Appendix B.
The CNMI DFW has a marine mammal sighting database, with a special interest in humpback whales
(CNMI DFW 2004). Data were requested from Mr. Michael Trianni, Fisheries Research Supervisor,
but were not received for inclusion in this MRA.
In 2003, scientists with the NOAA and other research institutions conducted the Marianas
Archipelago Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (MARAMP) cruise aboard the NOAA Ship
Oscar Elton Sette (cruise OES-03-07). The purpose of this cruise was to assess and map the coral
reef ecosystems of the Marianas archipelago. During Leg I (22 August to September 21), work was
conducted around thirteen islands and four to five shallow banks of the CNMI. During Leg II (23 to 29
September), work was conducted around the Guam and three of its shallow banks. Opportunistic