The division of fish and wildlifes geographic information system (GIS) serves as a data management program for processing, organizing, analyzing, and long-term archiving of biological data for…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Lands and Natural Resources $103,976 under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The award supports development and maintenance of Geographic Information System (GIS) infrastructure and technical support services designed to enhance the Division of Fish and Wildlife's data management capabilities for fisheries conservation and species management projects.

Under this formula grant, the awardee will deliver GIS infrastructure development, technical data support services, and spatial analysis capabilities to fishery biologists conducting species surveys, population monitoring, and habitat assessments throughout the Northern Mariana Islands. Specifically, GIS staff will provide data entry services, design spatial survey components, generate mapping analyses, and perform spatial analysis to inform fisheries management decisions and species conservation recommendations. These products and services are intended to extend the Division's analytical capacity and support the development of evidence-based management recommendations for fishery resources within the Commonwealth.

The division of fish and wildlifes geographic information system (GIS) serves as a data management program for processing, organizing, analyzing, and long-term archiving of biological data for conservation projects. DFW fishery biologists collect and analyze data from technical guidance reviews, species surveys, and monitoring projects in order to assess and manage species populations, mitigate habitat loss, and guide development. In tandem, the GIS staff will provide technical support for such projects by entering data, designing spatial components of surveys, mapping efforts, and performing spatial analysis to better inform decisions. As a result, IT is essential to provide development of GIS infrastructure and technical support in order to extend the programs capacity to the fisheries section and provide the best management recommendations for species found within the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands.