Charles Kaaiai, who represented Hawaii in the regional ecosystem advisory committee meeting last Tuesday, presented the draft proposal for the program which was part of the amendment to Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization act.
As a result of the workshop held in Honolulu last year, the amendment included a mandate for the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council and Pacific Islands Regional Office to develop the education and training program.
The preliminary inventory of marine education in the Western Pacific showed that the CNMI has limited employment opportunities and training in the fields of marine biology, resource conservation, science and other related professions.
The CNMI also has no outreach programs for consumer education on quality and sustainability of wild fish and on fish products from aquaculture.
Training on these fields is made available only through workshops and symposia.
Following last year’s meeting, Wespacs determined that there is a need to increase the involvement of young people in traditional fishing practices, management and sustainability.
But lack of employment in these professions discourage young people from coming home even after getting trained off-island.
Funding challenges likewise affect the hiring of resource persons needed for the development of programs.
The marine education and training identifies indigenous Pacific islanders, native Hawaiians and other under represented groups in the region as beneficiaries of the program.
The CNMI is among those recognized as a fishing community under Magnuson-Stevens Act.
