Fisheries
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Fishing activities on Guam can be divided into offshore and inshore fishing.
Offshore fishing typically involves small boat (12 to 48 feet), 1 to 2-day
trolling and bottom fishing trips that usually originate from one of the
three principal harbors located on the west coast and southern tip of the
island. In recent years, the sportfishing charter boat industry has
increased significantly. Inshore fishing is typically conducted without the
use of a boat and consists mostly of nearshore casting, netting, and
spearfishing. In addition to artisnal/non-commercial fishing, there is a
commercial fishery on Guam, with fish sold through a cooperative and several
other vendors. Roadside vendors often sell their individual catch or fish
imported from other islands.
The Aquatic Section of DAWR has been conducting offshore and inshore
surveys since the early 1970's. The data are the basis for management
proposals such as the Marine
Preserve Areas. This section of the web site includes the annual reports
since 1990, which detail data and conclusions.
The Aquatic Section helps to develop
the fisheries by placing fish aggregation devices (FADs), fishing
platforms, and other aids to fishermen, while at the same time monitoring
and managing the fisheries through initiatives to foster health of the reefs
on which the fish depend, including placing shallow water moorings to
prevent reef damage and setting aside Marine Preserve Areas
(restricted or no fishing) to help restock the fishing areas.
The Aquatic Section also takes care of the freshwater fisheries and
habitats, including monitoring for introduced pest species of animals and
plants. They take a watershed approach to fisheries management, recognizing
that what happens on the land can flow down via the rivers to to
reefs.
Important parts of work of the Aquatic Section are education and
conservation. Explore their projects in the Conservation area of this web or
take a look at their educational materials in the Learning Center area of
this web site; these include posters, a video,and a CD-ROM
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
