Aquatics
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The mission of the Fisheries Section of
the Division of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources is to restore, conserve,
manage, and enhance the aquatic resources in and about Guam and to provide
for the public use of and benefits from these resources.
Goals
- Provide fishermen with ramps, piers, fish aggregating devices (FADs), fishing platforms and freshwater fishing facilities in order to enhance their fishing experience.
- Restore reef fish stocks by regulating fishing access in Marine Preserves.
- Protect water quality, coral reef habitat, and freshwater ecosystems through land-use permit review, watershed restoration, and installation of pumpout facilities and shallow water moorings.
- Educate all segments of the public about the importance of conserving, aquatic resources through school and community presentations, kid's fishing derbies, and the production of posters, brochures, videos, and CD-ROMs.
- Obtain reliable data from inshore, offshore, freshwater, and sea turtle surveys for use in developing management strategies, which balance resource conservation with resource use.
- Establish a uniform policy (in conjunction with other pertinent agencies) addressing invasive species and their impacts on the native flora and fauna of Guam.
These goals will be achieved through various specific
objectives over the next three years.
Technical Assistance
DAWR professional Fisheries staff devoted a significant percentage of their time and effort to technical assistance to fulfill the statutory responsibility to review and comment on development plans, rezoning applications, and various permit applications. Because of the size and complexity of some of these developments, the Fisheries Staff's review responsibility requires a continuing commitment that could extend even beyond project completion.
The Division's Technical Assistance Program (TAP) within the
Administration/ Coordination Section remained unstaffed due to funding. The
work has been transferred to the Agricultural Development Services (ADS)
Division. ADS coordinates with fisheries on issues requiring such expertise.
The professional staff within the Fishery Section provide technical support
to the ADS staff, and occasionally take the lead in the review of projects
involving their particular expertise, such as those that may have endangered
species (sea turtles) impacts and those involving coral reefs.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
