ESTABLISHING a 30-mile exclusion zone for long line fishing will entice local fishermen to venture into this commercial fishing method, according to the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.
Long line fishing involves setting a 20 to 35-mile long line with baited hooks on its branches left for up to 12 hours in the water.
Last year, Wespac members agreed to allow long lining outside the 30 nautical mile closure area from the shores of the CNMI.
This unanimous recommendation has been submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is now being reviewed by its Pacific Islands Regional Office.
However, during the meeting of the regional ecosystem advisory committee last Tuesday, concerns were raised by some members.
Lino Olopai, a traditional fisherman, wants the exclusion zone pushed to 50 nautical miles as originally recommended, while other members noted that small fishermen may lose their livelihood to long liners.
Jack Ogumoro, CNMI Wespac coordinator, said setting a 30-mile exclusion area will entice foreign investors interested in long line fishing as well as the local people who may soon have the capacity to engage in such a large-scale fishing activity.
Right now, there is a Hawaii-based fishery firm doing long line fishing in the CNMI.
Ogumoro said long line fishing is expensive in terms of fuel cost.
Martin Mendiola, who represented Rota on the panel, suggested full scholarships for locals to build local capacity in manning long line vessels.
Tony Benavente, who also attended the meeting, said there are locals who are considering long line fishing but lacks the financial capacity to do so.
He wants to know if they can get help from the Commonwealth Development Authority regarding the needed start-up funds.
Ogumoro said all the recommendations brought up during the separate meetings of the advisory panel, the plan team and the regional eco-system advisory committee will be sent to the NOAA which review them during the drafting of new regulations.
