They are Benigno M. Sablan, a member of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council; Joaquin P. Villagomez, a former member of Wespac’s advisory panel; and Sylvan O. Igisomar, the director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Sablan and Villagomez were among those who were opposed to the original monument proposal.
The three CNMI representatives will be joined on the council by officials of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Fitial, in his recommendation letter to White House Committee on Environmental Quality Chairman James L. Connaughton, said he is confident that Sablan, Villagomez and Igisomar will serve “honorably, responsibly and admirably.”
He described the three as “truly champions of reasonable, practical and meaningful conservation efforts and practices, and they are committed to sustainable fishing.”
A recreational fisherman, cultural practitioner and former lawmaker, Sablan is serving his third and final term with Wespac, which was also highly critical of the original monument proposal.
Villagomez is a former director of Fish and Wildlife and served as Coastal Resource Management administrator.
Igisomar has been recently appointed as member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
Within the next three months, the secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security will establish the advisory council to provide recommendations regarding the development of management plans and the management of the monument.
President Bush, in his declaration, said members of the management council will serve for a term of three years.
