An Act to establish a moratorium on the harvesting of seaweed, sea grass, and sea cucumber in the Commonwealth waters; and for other purposes (P.L. No. 11-63)

GOV. COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Pedro Tenorio Governor Jesus R. Sablan Lt. Governor The Honorable T. Benavente Speaker, House of Representatives Eleventh Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature Saipan, MP 96950 a n d The Honorable Paul A. Manglona President of the Senate Eleventh Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature Saipan, MP 96950 Caller Box 10007 Saipan, MP 96950 Telephone: (670) 664-2200 Fax: (670) 664-221 1 , 8 Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. This is to inform you that I have signed into law House Bill No. 11-144, entitled, "To establish a moratorium on the harvesting of seaweed, sea grass, and sea cucumber in the Commonwealth waters; and for other purposes," which was passed by the Eleventh Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legis la ture . The Division of Fish and Wildlife believes that unregulated harvesting of certain sea foods has put their population i n danger. Therefore, this moratorium is needed to allow these populations to recover. This bill becomes Public Law No. 11-63. Copies bearing my signature are forwarded for your reference. ince re l y , Secretary of Lands and Natural Resources Special Assistant for Programs Legislative Review COMM. (HOUSfJ p Diego fEB. i 1999 Ff3 18 1899 PresideiH: HDl CC: & HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EL NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMON WEALTH FIFTH SPECIAL SESSION, 1998 PUBLIC LAW NO. 11-63 HOUSE BILL NO. 11-144. AN ACT To establish a moratorium on the harvesting of seaweed, sea grass, and sea cucumber in the Commonwealth waters; and for other purposes. Offered by Representatives: Manuel A. Tenorio Ana S. Teregeyo, Karl T. Melvin L. Faisao, David M. Apatang and Rosiky F. Camacho Date: March 11, 1998 ACTION Referred to: Committee on Natural Resources Standing Committee Report: 11 -1 6 First and Final Reading: July 6, 1998 SENATE ACTION Referred to: Committee on Resources, Economic Development and Programs Standing Committee Report: None Second and Final Reading: December 17, 1998 I , . EVENTH LEGISLATURE HD1 Reyes, 0. HOUSE . ' ELEVENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 1 1 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 PUBLIC L A W NO. 11-63 H. B. SO. FIRST REGULAR SESSION. 1998 AN ACT To establish a moratorium on the harvesting of seaweed, sea grass, and sea cucumber in the Commonwealth waters; and for other purposes. B E I T E N A C I E D T H E ELEVENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE: Findings. The Legislature finds that i n recent years due to over harvesting or the deleterious effects of beach front development, recreational use of the Commonwealth's lagoons by motorcraft, the water side of the Puerto dump and its petrochemical, fluorocarbon, and heavy metal contaminants, the population of edible sesweed, sea grass, and sea cucumbers and other edible echinoderms has greatly declined. Since many other elements of marine life dependent on the lagoons and reefs are already threatened it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth's reef ecosystem to put a moratorium on the harvest of those elements most in danger of disappearing. Section 2. Moratorium. There is hereby established for a period of at least ten years a moratorium on the harvest of all non-commercially grown seaweed, sea grass, or sea cucumbers or other edible echinoderms. Such moratorium may be extended in whole or in part by the of Lands and Natural Resources after ten should it be determined the population of seaweed, sea grass, sea cucumbers and other edible echinoderms have not sufficiently recovered and permitting harvest is still inadvisable. Section Penalty. Any person who violates Section 2 of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, be fined $500 violation, and imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) days. Section 4. Severabilitv. If any provision of this Act or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance should be invalid by court of jurisdiction, the remainder of this Act or the application of its provisions t o persons o r circumstances other than to which i t is invalid shall not thereby. I ! 11-144, HDl UY 1 --- -- -section 1. heavy ' presence Rico 9 years 3. shall per 19 held a competent those held PUBLIC L A W N O . 11- 63 HOUSE BILL NO. 11-144, Section Savings Clause. This Act any repealer contained herein shall not be construed as affecting any existing right acquired under contract or acquired under statutes repealed or under any rule, regulation or order adopted under the statutes. Repealers contained in this Act shall n o t affect any proceeding instituted under o r pursuant to prior law. The enactment of this Act shall not have the effect of terminating, or in any way modifying, any liability, civil or criminal, which shall already be in existence o n the date this Act becomes effective. Section 6. Effective Date. This Act take effect upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval. . CERTIFIED BY: ATTESTED BY: ANA S. TEREG Acting Speaker House of A \ Commonwealth of the Northern Islands Page 2 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 II 5. and shall Repre·sentatives HD1 EV)tL YN C . .1FLE ING House(O a; r1 / ~ ,. , this ! {~ day of -j-Lttu, 7 • I 999 / . if \ ) EDROYENORIO = .,,,.,.Covernor Mariana