Comments on The Saipan SCUBA Diving Blog: Catch of the Day - Saipan’s Napoleon wrasse contr...

neutral dive gear I briefly checked out your site ...

2008-02-07T22:39:00.000+10:00

neutral dive gear
I briefly checked out your site but like I said in my other comment - time for bed, thanks for the kind words!

mstdfwThanks for the correction on the IP / TP thi...

2008-02-07T22:37:00.000+10:00

mstdfw
Thanks for the correction on the IP / TP thing. There's proof right there I don't know as much as the scientists!

Hi RichardFor as long as there have been fish in t...

2008-02-07T22:34:00.000+10:00

Hi Richard

For as long as there have been fish in the sea feeding the people of Micronesia I am nothing but a relative new comer to these islands and I will never suggest that I know more about fishing and the ocean than the longtime fisherman who practice techniques based on knowledge and skill passed on by their ancestors or even the scientists for that matter!. As you say Fishermen know the ocean and its resources and they have been managing it successfully for thousands of years. I have talked to Felix a handful of times but even in this short time together I have gotten the sense he has great respect for the ocean and that coupled with his skill would give me no reason to question your statement that he should be respected. I hope I have not given you the impression otherwise.

I think this is a good conversation to have and front-page pictures of very large fish caught by humans almost the same size has a way of bringing things up for discussion!

"If there are real concerns out there about the preservation of the napoleon wrasse then there should have been efforts made to educate and solicit fishermen, especially spear fishermen to reframe from harvesting the wrasse, even in the absence of law or regulations".

I personally have not had the Napoleon wrasse high on the list of things that keep me up at night. The loss of our Eagle rays does that enough all ready. However, the Napoleon has been discussed at the recent RARE Pride campaign spearheaded by Brooke at CRM and a 20,000 grant. The initial meeting was held for community stakeholders and it is my understanding that invitations were sent to the fishing community. I was there, Mr. Lino Olapai, who has recently shared with me a few of his many insights into the traditional ways was also there but other than that no other fisherman. A number of people there mentioned the Napoleon as a possible flagship species for the campaign.

Similarly at the recent IYOR proclamation signing by the governor Lino was the only fisherman who spoke when given the opportunity to do despite official invitations from the Saipan NOAA office and DEQ.

Finally every month on Saipan a group called COCO gets together. COCO is made up of governmental agencies and community stakeholders with the following in mind from their MOU
"to provide coordination in the development and implementation of environmental outreach and education strategies and programs; and to provide a forum for other CNMI natural resource stakeholders to participate in environmental outreach and education planning and implementation"
.
Again this is another possible forum in which all community stakeholders can come together, have regular discussion educate each other and then disseminate the information to everyone. I have attended these meetings for past 5 months now and have asked why the fisherman and the marine division from DFW are not there. Perhaps this “controversy” can be something that brings everyone together.

While I respect the notion that the waters would be better off being watched over by the ways of the past the reality of today is 65,000 people are living on Saipan and many of those who fish do not respect or know the ways of the Carolinian and Chamorro ancestors. The pressures today are many and far greater than they have ever been which means everyone with a vested interest in our marine resources must work together to find creative ways to protect what we have so that it will be able to sustain itself for future generations.

Finally, (because I have to go to bed) I will say what I said at the PIMPAC meeting a number of months ago where there was a good showing of local fisherman.

Divers and fisherman have the most in common of any of the groups having a stake in our oceans. We both want to see more fish! Whether it is to feel like we are in a well-stocked aquarium or because we rely on the resource to feed our families.

Therefore, I see no reason why we cannot co-exist to the benefit of everyone.

Wow! Phenomenal post!Dove with Napoleon wrasse in ...

2008-02-07T17:43:00.000+10:00

Wow! Phenomenal post!

Dove with Napoleon wrasse in Tahiti (off the island of Moorea) last year - truly magnificent fish!

BTW, LOVE the blog you've got going here. Would love to add you to the Neutral Dive Gear Scuba Diving Blog blogroll... any chance at a reciprocal link?

Keep diving!

_ndg

Mike, Nice article! Glad the issue is being talked...

2008-02-07T16:22:00.000+10:00

Mike,

Nice article! Glad the issue is being talked about in the community, although I would have preferred a more 'island-like' approach.

The big fish was landed after the smaller one. In the literature IP generally refers to 'initial phase', although both these appear to be TP.

I think the comments by 'richard' need to be heard. It is important to remember the cliche "Just because it is not important to you, does not mean it is not important to someone else", in the context of island culture.

cheers

Richard--I think Mike's discussion is fair and is ...

2008-02-07T13:23:00.000+10:00

Richard--
I think Mike's discussion is fair and is not unfair to Mr. Sasamoto.

Nice discussion, Mike. I can feel your emotions i...

2008-02-07T11:36:00.000+10:00

Nice discussion, Mike. I can feel your emotions in your writing. Thanks.

I normally do not get too emotional about issues t...

2008-02-07T02:12:00.000+10:00

I normally do not get too emotional about issues that tend to forget the personal side of fishermen, especially indigenous people. However, having read a number of comments and critizism directed to Mr. Sasamoto prompted me to put in my two cents. First of all, everything that were stated negatively about Mr. Sasamoto is wrong and should have never been made. If there are real concerns out there about the preservation of the napoleon wrasse then there should have been efforts made to educate and solicit fishermen, especially spear fishermen to reframe from harvesting the wrasse, even in the absence of law or regulations. Good fishermen such as Mr. Sasamoto will surely accept such plea and will just choose another specie no one has problem with. It is a shame that only now after Mr. Sasamoto had already harvested the wrasse that concerned citizens have spoken up on the need to save the fish for our tourists and diving community. Secondly, it bothers me to hear people redicule fishermen for doing what they have been doing all their lives. I am not here to compare between our own people practicing their basic and traditional livelihood, such as spear fishing and the effort to downplay their activities for the enjoyment of others. However, in this case I can not sit back and allow others to imply that local spear fishermen doing what they have always been doing long before the days of tourism is no longer that important and that they should make way for the best show in the ocean. It is unfortunate that a lot of people, including scientists, would think that fishermen have little or no scientific knowledge of our ocean resources and its environment and that they have no idea about what they are doing. Fishermen know the ocean and its resources and they have been managing it successfully for thousands of years. Mr. Sasamoto knows his ocean and fishing for his livelyhood the traditional way should be respected and praised.

Great post, Mike. You are the editor's choice for...

2008-02-06T17:18:00.000+10:00

Great post, Mike. You are the editor's choice for Carnival of the Blue IX!

This is a great post and I'm happy to include it i...

2008-02-06T15:25:00.000+10:00

This is a great post and I'm happy to include it in the Carnival of the Blue. Way to be thorough!

Felix could supplement his DFW salary by taking se...

2008-02-06T15:18:00.000+10:00

Felix could supplement his DFW salary by taking selected divers and uw photographers on his new eco tours....rather than selling the fish.
I would pay to get good shots of some large local Saipan Napoleon wrasses.
Now... two grand fish are gone.
There are two small napoleon wrasses hanging out near the Grotto. Long may they swim.