That is why House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, strongly opposes Rep. Sylvestre I. Iguel’s proposal to lift the ban on the use of surround nets for subsistence fishing.
Introduced in December last year, House Bill 17-136 uses the CNMI’s “continued economic crisis” as rationale to amend the Fair Fishing Act that prohibits surround net fishing.
Iguel’s H.B. 17-136 states that the government work hour reduction from 80 to 64 and the rising cost of fuel, utilities and retail goods have “crippled” the financial capability of families to buy basic needs, pay loans, mortgages and other debts.
Hence, the bill added, it is in the best interest of many residents of Saipan to allow non-commercial net fishing for a period of five years.
The nets, however, should be made of monofilament fishing lines.
Once H.B. 17-136 becomes law, the use of two-inch trap, surround and drag nets “shall be legal in the waters surrounding Saipan for non-commercial purposes.”
But according to Benavente, R-Saipan, these types of fishing nets can destroy other forms of marine life in the Saipan lagoon, particularly the coral reef. He also does not believe that the catch won’t end up in stores.
Benavente, a fisherman, said surround and other types of net fishing catch a large volume of fish.
“It is an insult to the intelligence of our people to suggest that these volumes will not be sold commercially,” he told his colleagues in a letter last Friday.
Benavente recalled how his family depended in part on the ocean for their livelihood. And during those times he said he witnessed a steady decline in the islands’ fish population.
“As a small boy, I spent many hours with my grandfather and father learning how to fish. During those times there was abundance and great variety of fish. At the time, all forms of fishing were permitted and used including poll net, hook and line, surround net and talaya net fishing,” Benavente recalled.
“When I was tennager, my father was the first to introduce the Okinawan style of gill net fishing and to bring Okinawan fishermen to Saipan to work for him. Using Okinawan fishermen and hiring local fishermen, he was able to run his market successfully seven days a week. In fact, I followed his footsteps buying boats, running a market and selling our daily catch for more than 20 years. Today, our fish stocks are depleted, my boat is sold and my fish market is closed,” he added.
Benavente urged the other members of the House of Representatives to carefully consider the negative impact of H.B. 17-136 on the CNMI, its people and economy. He said the future of fishing in Saipan lagoon — the future of families’ livelihood, children and their children — depends on the lawmakers’ “logical and careful consideration.”
He said contrary to the claim that it will help in these dismal economic times, Iguel’s bill will only hurt the islands’ economy even further.
Over 10 years ago, Benavente voted for the passage of the Fair Fishing Act that bans not only surround net fishing but also scuba spear fishing.
At that time, he said he could plainly see the obvious decline in Saipan’s fish population. He also witnessed the damage in the coral reef.
Today, Benavente said the Division of Fish and Wildlife receives funding from the Dingell-Johnson Sports Fish Restoration Fund — a federal fund — annually to conduct research on the CNMI’s coral reef with a specific focus on resources sustainability.
One of the areas of data collection, he said, is on fish sent to the market. These fish are identified.
DFW also conducted a study from 2004 to 2007 showing that the number of fish was increasing and that their sizes were bigger compared to the time prior to the enactment of the Fair Fishing Act.
Benavente said another report will soon come out showing the data from 2008 to present. He guaranteed that such report will provide people with evidence that the CNMI has not yet reached its maximum sustainable yield.
“Adding any increased fishing pressure now will only send us backwards, further reducing the stocks and resulting in fewer fish,” he said.
Until scientific data shows that the CNMI is clear from the dangerous impact of surround net or any type of net fishing, Benavente said, “we cannot in good conscience allow this measure.”
