August 26, 2014 — A letter from the CNMI to Obama states: “What you may not know is that there is a growing resentment in island communities throughout the western pacific with the Antiquities Act and the unilateral approach used by a sitting president in designating [Marine National Monuments].”
The signatories include Gourley, former Sen. Herman R. Guerrero, president of the Northern Marianas Descent Corporation, Felix Sasamoto, president of Marianas Apnea Spearfishing Club, Ray Camacho of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, Richard Seman of the NMI Fishermen Marketing Association, Benigno Sablan of Guihan Pasifiku, Tony Scragg of the Saipan Fishermen Association, Rosemond B. Santos of the KKMP Foundation, David Johanson of Marianas Sailing Club, Cecilia Selepeo of Guardians of Gani, Isidoro Cabrera of the Economic Research and Development Foundation, Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong of the Aghurubw Society, Juan Tenorio of the Tanapag Action Group and Cecilio Raiukiulipiy of the Marianas Water Operations Association.
More Pacific island leaders and many marine conservationists are expressing their opposition to President Obama’s proposed expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
These include Gov. Eloy Inos, the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, the governments of Guam and American Samoa each of which sent a letter to the White House expressing their concerns and strong objection.
Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-government organization, supports the expansion and said it has gathered more than 100,000 signatures of other supporters from around the globe.
In an interview, Pew’s director of the Ocean Legacy Project, Matt Rand, said he is optimistic about the outcome of their campaign.
“It is time for people to be aware and act to protect our marine natural resources,” Rand said.
But John Gourley, a longtime CNMI resident and a Marine conservation advocate, said the Pew campaign is bogus and deceiving.
He said Pew is using scientific studies on overfishing that were disapproved by environmentalists years ago.
Read the full story at the Marianas Variety