Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and local fishers from the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) worked together to conduct the “first-ever standardized, fishery-independent bottomfish survey in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,” per the NOAA fisheries article. The project was conducted on the NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette, where scientists and local fishers traveled over 1,900 nautical miles in 15 days.
The groundbreaking project focuses on better understanding bottomfish, a group of deep-water fish species located near Hawaii, Guam, and the NMI. Nicknamed the “Deep 7,” these seven species have undeniable cultural and economic value.
By collecting and analyzing over 609 bottomfish specimens, scientists recorded important data regarding population size, reproduction cycles, and habitat. Responsible management of bottomfish will be vital for the NMI fishing industry, as “bottomfish are significant in CNMI’s commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing.” The data is not currently publicly available.
Outside of understanding bottomfish better, the novel research project has three long term goals that contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of deep fish species near US territories. First, the research will help improve stock assessments, which are evaluations of the fish populations. Second, the data will help create more sustainable fishing practices based on “fishing limits and strategies to ensure long-term health and productivity.” Lastly, it will offer deeper insights into fish life cycles, providing key information on “growth patterns, reproduction cycles, and habitat.”
The success of the project stems largely from the effective collaboration between the scientists and local fishers. Scientists created the “experimental designs and techniques,” while local fishers’ “deep-rooted understanding of the local waters, fish behavior, and effective fishing methods” helped execute the experiment.
A partnering fisherwomen of the project, Audrey Toves, describes how, in addition to helping the survey with her knowledge, her experience aboard Oscar Elton Sette can also help her community.
“I’m going to walk off [the ship] as a scientist, as a fisher scientist, and I’m going to be able to bring everything that I’ve learned with me to share with everybody,” she said.
And, by bringing scientists and fishers together, this project also created a new community. Local fisher Lino Terrerio described his emotions on the final day of experimentation.
“I feel like I am a part of the team, and it’s more so like a family from day one up until this day,” he said. “Just before I disembarked the ship, it’s like I honestly felt like crying. I feel so emotional and so touched by everybody’s professionalism, togetherness.”
The bottomfish survey of the NMI did more than just gather data for the NOAA: it created a connection between scientists of the NOAA and the local fishers of the NMI. Hopefully, this survey is only the first step in promoting environmental conservation, fishing industry regulations, and community building in the NMI as the NOAA continues its fish research.
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