By Emmanuel T.Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Saipan Fishermen’s Association was awarded $150,000 in seed money by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council for the formation of a cooperative, according to Westpac onsite coordinator Jack Ogumoro.
The association, which will be officially established next month, will also open a fish market near their proposed office at Micro Beach in Garapan.
Ogumoro said the fishermen’s group has already received about half of the amount for the renovation of the building and the procurement of office furniture and equipment necessary for the fish market.
Westpac is among eight regional councils created by the federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Former Fish and Wildlife Director Richard Seman, the interim manager of the cooperative, said they will be “consumer-friendly.”
“For example — if you want to buy tuna for yourself alone, and don’t need a whole fish, you can buy just a slice of the fish,” he said.
The cooperative can even make sashimi on the spot, he added.
The day’s catch will be placed in properly maintained chillers from which customers may choose but cannot touch the fish.
Seman said fishermen can sell their catch to the cooperative — a maximum of 600 pounds a day during the “good season” from February to June, and a minimum of 150 pounds during “off season” from November to December.
Seman said the cooperative will set its prices based on the actual cost of operations.
Yellow fin tuna, for example, is currently sold for $225 per pound, while skip jack tuna is $175 per pound.
The cooperative will offer the fish at the same price and consumers can be assured of the quality, Seman said.
He said they will hold a membership meeting early next month for those interested in joining the cooperative.