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June 2009
PEW ENVIRONMENT GROUP AND ALTER EGO ATTEMPT (ANOTHER) UNDERHANDED APPROACH TO FURTHER EXPAND AND PROHIBIT FISHING IN THE MARIANAS TRENCH MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT Just when you thought it would be safe to go fishing again, the Pew Environment Group and their alter ego, the "Friends of the Monument" (Friends), attempted to convince CNMI Delegate Gregorio "Kilili" Sablan to significantly modify the existing Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Marianas Monument) to reflect their wants. The Marianas Monument was created on January 6, 2009 to assure former President, George W. Bush's environmental "blue legacy." Using powers granted his office by the Antiquities Act of 1906 here, the President unilaterally designated a significant portion of the Marianas archipelago as a marine national monument in Presidential Proclamation 8335 here. In a letter dated 17 April 2009 here, the Friends pressed our Congressman to pass federal legislation that would improve (their word) upon the Marianas Monument. Even though their action would detrimentally affect a significant portion of indigenous people living in the Marianas archipelago, the only person that the Friends copied in their letter was CEQ! Not surprisingly, Pew wants to greatly expand the existing boundaries of the Marianas Monument around our three northern-most islands and, of course prohibit all commercial and recreational fishing throughout all areas of the Monument. Not satisfied with those suggested draconian changes, Pew also wants to change the existing co-management assignment between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) to solely that of the National Marine Sanctuaries Office (NOAA). Click here to see a figure showing the present limitations for fishing activities in the Marianas Monument identified by Presidential Proclamation 8335. The second figure here shows the fishing prohibitions that are being pushed by the Pew Environment Group/Friends of the Monument. Our local newspapers carried several stories about the friends monumental request here, here, and here. Governor Fitial sent letters to Congressman Sablan, Secretary Salazar and the House Speaker/Senate President asking for no action on the request. Public opposition was immediate with Mr. John Gourley writing a Letter-to-the-Editor here; Ms. Ruth Tighe's retort followed shortly here. Latest update from Congressman Sablan's office: The Friends held a conference call with Congressman Sablan's office on 12 May 2009 and were informed that the Congressman "has no intention of reopening the negotiations that has already taken place between the Friends of the Monument, the Governor, and the White House on the designation and implementation of the Monument ." It is our understanding that the Congressman wants to give the proclamation some time to develop and see what can and can't be accomplished under existing circumstances. Thank you Congressman Sablan! fishing rights from the people of the Marianas archipelago! |