OPEN Ocean Aquaculture is an emerging approach to raise fish in open ocean waters utilizing submersible cages or net pens. Hawaii has been successfully operating commercial open ocean aquaculture cages in the U.S. In this natural, high energy environment fish grow better and are healthier. Open Ocean Aquaculture reverses the stereo-typical approach to providing for fish protein from “hunting” for fish to “farming fish”.
The prospect of an Open Ocean Aquaculture or OOA system seems like an easy fit for any developing island community such as the CNMI. The CNMI has a pristine oceanic EEZ of 758,121 km2 and only 478 km2 of land this makes our oceans 99.94% of our combined EEZ.
However, as a remote island state, we face the challenge of getting investments for Open Ocean Aquaculture in the CNMI. This is due based on the lack of a viable plan, the development of relevant regulations, and effective community awareness and engagement.
Banks, investors and the community are hesitant to invest in an upstart venture that is new, uncharted, and lacks a strategy and structure to be implemented, as well as the environmental regulations that correspond with the industry.
A capital-intensive undertaking such as OOA requires intensive planning, coordination and communications.
Grantors, investors, and banks want to be assured that their investment will bear fruit in our community. Because these aspects have yet to be developed, we face financial hardships in securing reliable investments and support, both from private and governmental sectors.
To this end KKMP Foundation in conjunction with Northern Marianas College-CREES program will be conducting an Open Ocean Aquaculture symposium to showcase the prospect of fish farming.
This symposium will be held at the Pacific Islands Club on Thursday, Oct. 6, at Charlie’s Cabaret starting at 8 a.m. and is free of charge.
The symposium will feature the best minds in OOA, who will share their knowledge on how the CNMI can capitalize on our huge ocean resources. This will showcase the opportunities of creating a large-scale fishing industry in the CNMI.
Our goal will be to demonstrate the ability of our oceans to not only provide sustenance and jobs for our CNMI population but to thrive with healthy protein and hale and hearty escape, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and other natural/man-made disasters.
Our focus will be to reveal the methods our pristine CNMI waters can assist government and non-government organizations during the pandemic and other catastrophic events by utilizing our natural ocean resources to not only survive but to prosper and progress the quality of life for our people.
We have witnessed the impacts of disasters and climate change on fisheries production as well as food security. It seems the large countries are creating climate changes and small islands communities such as the CNMI are powerless to stop it. To survive climate change and the many disasters associated with it we must be proactive and adapt.
This project will provide our community with answers and details of ongoing and completed adaptation initiatives. Sharing examples will aid in the planning and development of regional adaptation maps for food security in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. This compilation is intended to provide a critical analysis for policymakers and researchers involved in developing policy responses for resilience and environmental safety.
This project fits with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and the Governor’s Economic Council of Advisors’ vision of resilience for the people of the CNMI and to ensure that local fisheries, economy, healthy protein, and food security remains intact before, during and post pandemic and in natural or man-made disasters.
This symposium has been endorsed by the Governor’s Economic Council of Advisors and is sponsored by the governor’s ARPA grants, the Saipan and Northern Islands Delegation, the United States Department of Agriculture and NMC-CREES.