According to the environmentalists the CNMI people should put more weight on the pride that the proposed marine monument comprising the northern islands of Maug, Asuncion and Uracas would bring to their islands. They said that the people should not bother about the economic benefits that might be reaped from the yet to be established fishing industry.
William L. Aila Jr., harbour agent at Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, informed that there’s been some misinformation spread around the CNMI about how the Hawaiians perceived their own marine monument. He said that there have been certain misrepresentations here in the Northern Marianas that the Hawaiians did not support the monument project.
The environmentalists talk about the benefits of the Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument, formerly known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. It is the largest marine sanctuary in the world, says L. Aila. Jr. he further adds that if the CNMI agrees to turn its three uninhabited northernmost islands as another marine sanctuary, it will become the second largest in the world.
Aila also opined that the monument should bring the people of the CNMI a higher level of pride because you have protected a very pristine area adjacent to and including the Marianas Trench which is one of the wonders of the world. He continued saying that the money should be really secondary though. He criticizes the CNMI government’s argument that the project is bad for the local fishing industry has no basis at this time.
