(NMC) — Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services has completed the first series of community input meetings with CNMI aquaculture producers, regulatory and permitting agencies, resource agencies, business community and stakeholders.
In addition, a study is being conducted by the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University which was selected for its extensive knowledge in all aspects of aquaculture and familiarity with the CNMI and Asia-Pacific region. The feasibility study is the first step towards guiding the development of aquaculture in the CNMI. Feedback gathered from the community will be incorporated into the study to help guide the development and content of the document.
The meetings were well attended with over 90% of the invited participants attending. Shaun M. Moss, Ph.D., executive director of Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“Our meetings with community stakeholders in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota over the past three days were very productive,” Moss said. “Participants provided valuable insights and recommendations which will inform our decisions on how best to design the aquaculture parks with the overall goal to help catalyze the development of a robust and sustainable aquaculture industry here in the CNMI.”
Mike Ogo of NMC-CREES’ Aquaculture and Natural Resources program, expressed his gratitude for the feedback from the stakeholders and how it will be incorporated into the study.
"We are especially thankful for the excellent responses from those present which will help [the Oceanic Institute] formulate the content of the study based on the stakeholder's feedback,” Ogo said.
:It was wonderful to have representatives from the private sector, regulatory agencies, higher education, and economic development authorities present at the meetings. We look forward to sharing the results of the study with the community in the summer of 2023,” Interim Dean of NMC-CREES Patty Coleman said.
The CNMI Aquaculture Feasibility Study is due on June 30, 2023, and is a grassroots study with content driven by the desired species, facilities, farming, or production methods of the stakeholders with the guidance of the Oceanic Institute. NMC looks forward to the completion and submission of the study and hopes it will help catalyze the development of a robust and sustainable aquaculture industry in the CNMI.
“This feasibility study is an important step towards realizing the potential of aquaculture in the CNMI and I am excited to see the valuable feedback provided by the community being incorporated into the study,” NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD said. “I am confident that this study will pave the way for the development of a vibrant and sustainable aquaculture industry in the CNMI.”
For more information or to get involved with the CNMI aquaculture feasibility study, visit crees.marianas.edu/.