THREE legislators, two employees of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and 12 other individuals have been cited for illegally entering a conservation island and hunting coconut crabs.
The Department of Lands and Natural Resources issued the citations on Wednesday afternoon to these persons for illegally entering Asuncion.
Asuncion is one of the four Northern Islands that have been designated as a sanctuary by the CNMI Constitution.
DLNR spokeswoman Marianne C. Teregeyo said the citations also included illegal hunting and illegal possession of coconut crabs, which were confiscated by DFW.
Reps. Frank DLG. Aldan, R-Saipan, Ramon Tebuteb, R-Saipan, and Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, were among the group that went to the Northern Islands on June 10 and went back to Saipan on June 16 by boat.
They stated that their original destination was Pagan.
Palacios, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and a former DFW director himself, said there was “miscommunication” and “misunderstanding” about the issue.
“We were under the impression that the permit issued to Representative Aldan also allowed us to go to Asuncion. I believe the citation issued to me and some of them will be waived, and that’s the purpose of the administrative hearing in the next few days,” he said.
“I did not get off the boat. I just stayed on the boat and went fishing,” Palacios told Variety in an interview.
Palacios, who also served as DLNR’s fisheries consultant, said the legislators and the rest of the team did not intend to violate any law.
“We regret this predicament and basically we will, in the future, make sure that all permits or clearances are obtained and clarified,” Palacios said.
He said the government-paid trip to the Northern Islands was to assess the “livability” of the islands in relation to pending legislation seeking to establish homesteads on the islands.
On the day of their departure, Aldan, on behalf of his company Tropical Gardens, requested a special permit to transfer one live fruit bat and five coconut crabs from Anatahan to Saipan.
This, he said, would be used for educational purposes and displayed at Saipan Zoo which he owns.
DFW Director Richard Seman granted the permit during the same day, provided that Aldan meet certain conditions.
“Further investigation and testimonies from boat crew indicated that the coconut crabs were illegally harvested on Asuncion, a conservation island as designated under the CNMI Constitution,” Teregeyo said.
DFW confiscated from Saipan Zoo the four coconut crabs taken from Asuncion. Each weighs from 1.76 lbs. to 4 lbs.
Saipan Zoo, however, was allowed to keep the juvenile fruit bat taken from Anatahan.
Aldan could not be reached for comment. He is currently in Palau to attend the Association of Pacific Island Legislators meeting.
Tebuteb did not return Variety’s calls.
The two DFW employees cited were Jacinto Taman and Anthony Flores.
The sea vessel’s captain, Manny Blas, and its owner, Norman Tenorio, face stiffer charges, according to DLNR.
Rep. Pete A. Castro, R-Saipan, was with the group, but he went to Pagan and did not go to Asuncion, Teregeyo said.
Others cited were Michael Blas, Keli Tenorio, Norbert Diaz, Luis Santos, Luis Manibusan, Mike Cancgo, Juan Diego Tenorio, Daniel Lisua, Larry Lee, and another individual whose name was not disclosed by DLNR pending receipt of a citation.
Under Public Law 2-51 and the CNMI Fish and Wildlife Regulations, each individual faces $100 to $1,000 fine per violation.
Teregeyo said an administrative hearing will be set within two weeks, to allow the individuals cited an opportunity to appeal.
Under the Constitution, Uracas, Asuncion, Maug and Guguan are conservation islands.
“Anyone wishing to enter the islands must first secure a permit and written authorization from the secretary of DLNR and the director of DFW,” Teregeyo said.
Moreover, the open season for hunting coconut crabs is from September to November. They can be hunted anywhere except on conservation islands, and with a bag limit of not more than 10 per person.
There are no open seasons for hunting the Marianas fruit bats which are currently listed as endangered species.
