The cnmi division of fish and wildlife conducts fisheries independent assessments of marine resources within the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Lands and Natural Resources received a $162,524 formula grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct fisheries-independent assessments of marine resources throughout the Northern Mariana Islands, employing passive observation methodologies to count and quantify finfish populations and habitat features without resource extraction. These assessments generate datasets that complement fisheries-dependent data collected directly from commercial and recreational fishermen and market sources.

The resulting data from these independent assessments will inform territorial fisheries management decisions and support the sustainable stewardship of the Commonwealth's marine ecosystems. The Sport Fish Restoration program supports such activities through excise tax revenues on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel, making this award consistent with the program's mission to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance sport fish populations while providing public access to aquatic recreational resources across U.S. territories and coastal jurisdictions.

These passive assessments involves observers counting and quantifying finfish and habitat features without extraction. Datasets derived from these assessments compliment data collected from fishermen and markets directly. These data are used to help inform management decisions.