Mt Tapochau Cleanup

On October 22, 2011, the staff, family and friends of both Fiesta Resort and Spa and Saipan Grand Hotel went to Mt. Tapochau to clean the area. Thirty-seven (37) volunteers braved driving the bad roads going up and collected 30 bags with approximate weight of 150 lbs. We removed unwanted weeds and grass, and cleaned the steps.

The volunteers were treated scrumptious breakfast at Shirley's Café. Fiesta Resort & Spa and Saipan Grand Hotel are members of MINA.

Please Sign White House Petition to Protect Sharks

Earlier this year the Northern Mariana Islands kicked off a global rush of shark conservation by banning the sale, trade, and possession of shark fin. Since the day Governor Fitial signed Public Law 17-27 into law, leaders in Guam, Honduras, The Bahamas, Chile, Tokelau, and the Marshall Islands have passed shark conservation measures. Additionally, Governor Fitial championed the declaration of the Micronesia Regional Shark Sanctuary, the first multi-jurisdictional shark sanctuary in the world.

I started a petition on the White House’s We The People website asking the Obama Administration to “ban the sale, trade, and possession of shark and shark products, including shark fin.” The petition needs about 1600 more signatures for the Administration to issue an official response. Please take a few moments to sign.

The petition can be found online at: www.wh.gov/gWs

The Northern Marianas is a global leader in marine and shark conservation. Like the students from San Vicente elementary who helped support the passage of our shark protections, these protections should spread from island to island, from country to country. The United States should be the next country to protect sharks.

Angelo Villagomez
Washington, DC

2011 Internatio​nal Coastal Cleanup

Hello Everyone,

On behalf of Coastal Resources Management Office, I would like to personally thank you all group coordinators for organizing a group of volunteer to make 2011 International Coastal Cleanup a success. This event could not have been a success without the help of you and the many other volunteers who donated their time in making Saipan's beaches clean. 

We are happy to share the result with you, the total weigh in of trash collected in our cleanup is 5,120 lbs. at about several hundred pounds less than last year.  Even though it rain on us we still manage to cover most of our beaches.

A lot of your data card have been turn in and received and have totaled each individual trash collected on the list.  On top of our list is cigarettes filters with 2,349 pieces, second we have caps and lids at 1,198 pieces and on third of our list is plastic forks, knives and spoon and Styrofoam cups and plates at  825 pieces.  I am still collecting data cards, please do send me through e-mail or stop by CRMO to drop off.

I also like to thank Beautify CNMI!, DEQ, DPW, and MINA in providing helping hands and supplies for this year's International Coastal Cleanup. Summary of data card and photos will be attach.  

Olomwaay,
Guy Macaranas
Saipan Coastal Coordinator

Marshall Islands National Shark Sanctuary

The Marshall Islands declared the world's largest shark sanctuary.

Congratulations and thank you to the people and government of the Marshall Islands.

And do you want to know what they are protecting? Here is a video from the Marshall Islands Conservation Society and HD Under H2O:



Again, congrats, Marshall Islands!!!

And it is time for the United States to do something similar. Shark Defenders started a petition on the Obama White House website that calls for a "ban the sale, trade, and possession of shark and shark products, including shark fin." As of this writing it needs 1,800 more signatures to reach the level that will guarantee a response from the president.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION