Dr. Cheng-Sheng Lee, director of the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, visited CREES on March 26 for an inspection of the progress of aquaculture in the CNMI and was impressed by CREES’s activities to date and by its plans for future promotion.
CTSA is one of five regional aquaculture centers in the United States established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The regional aquaculture centers integrate individual and institutional expertise and resources in support of commercial aquaculture development.
CTSA was established in 1986 and is jointly administered by the Oceanic Institute and the University of Hawaii.
Lee was treated to a tour, led by NMC-CREES Director Ross Manglona and aquaculture specialist Michael Ogo, through the NMC aquaculture facility to show CREES’s several grow-out trials with tilapia, shrimp, and abalone.
Afterward, the group met to discuss future plans.
Lee stressed the viability of aquaculture in the CNMI, especially since the geographical isolation of the islands warrants disease-free cultured fish.
While other fish culturing countries are fighting an expensive battle against bacteria and viruses, the CNMI could brand their products disease-free with a minimal investment in bio-security.
“There is a huge economic potential into which the CNMI can tap,” said Lee. “The CNMI is very close to Southeast Asia, where the biggest markets for sea food are located.”
After the tour around the research facility, the group visited several of CREES’s clients in Fina Sisu, Navy Hill, San Roque and Chinatown.
At these locations, Lee was shown several designs of fish tanks, ranging from low-cost back yard operations to more sophisticated ventures.
He was amazed that the Palms Resort in San Roque, where CREES had released some 80,000 fries, also uses the shrimps as a tourist attraction in its artificial lagoon.
CREES staff also showed Lee the different designs of the filter systems used in their tanks.
“Our filters are built locally at the YMBM shop for about the quarter of the price for an imported system,” said Ogo. “This is a perfect example of how the whole CNMI economy can take advantage from the multiplier effect a strong aquaculture industry is able to deliver.”
US immigration officials to speak before Tinian Chamber of Commerce
THE Tinian Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a presentation by Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials on April 3, Friday, 11 a.m. to 12 noon in the Tinian Banquet Room of the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.
The guests speakers:
• Walter Haith, field office director of the Guam/CNMI Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Fred Ongcapin, adjudications officer, policy and regulation management for the Citizenship and Immigration Services
The event is free for paid Tinian Chamber of Commerce members and $5 for non-members.
The Tinian Chamber of Commerce wants to know how USCIS intends to process approximately 2,000 applications from Tinian when there is no USCIS office expected to open on the island.
LISS test schedule
(LISS) — Ladera International School of Saipan will conduct the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, and the ACT test on LISS campus.
TOEFL:
• May 16 & 31 — 10 a.m.
• June 13 & 27 — 10 a.m.
• July 25 — 10 a.m.
• Aug. 22 & 30 — 10 a.m.
• Sept. 26 — 10 a.m.,
• Oct. 10 & 25 — 10 a.m.
• Nov. 8 — 10 a.m.
• Dec. 20 —10 a.m.
ACT:
• June 13
For more information, contact Wayne Pangelinan at 288-2006 or 483-5587.
UFO meeting
THE UFO League will hold its second meeting tonight, 6:30 p.m., at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office of the ground floor of the Marianas Business Plaza in Susupe.
Five teams already committed their participation: SIP, MDX, SMF, Bayani and Visminda.
Teams that participated in the 2006 league are encouraged to join this year.
All interested sponsors/teams that wish to join the league but are not affiliated Filipino organizations are encouraged to attend the meeting.
For more information, e-mail [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].
