Oneisomw Reef Owners Commit to Resource Management
(Chuuk, FSM)
On Friday, September 14th 2018, the municipality of
Oneisomw in Chuuk took a major step towards protecting their marine resources
through traditional reef owners signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The
MOU pledged to place several reefs into a protected area network of no-take
zones. This event underpins the commitment of Oneisomw’s traditional resource
owners in working with the state and national government to ensure protection
and management of both public and privately owned areas of biological
significance which is essential for the sustainable development of the nation,
state, and community.
Oneisomw is one of nine islands within the Faichuuk region in the
Chuuk State lagoon. Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia has some of the
most extensive coral reefs and among the highest fish biomass in Micronesia (Houk
et all. 2015). Chuuk’s population is highly dependent on these reefs for
subsistence and economic benefit (i.e. commercial fishing).
Since 2012, Oneisomw has been working with the Chuuk Conservation Society,
The Nature Conservancy, Micronesia Conservation Trust, and the University of
Guam Marine Lab in developing comprehensive plans that can assist and support
the community in better stewarding resources. This process spanning several
years of committed work showcases the importance of coordination and collaboration
amongst various entities culminating in achieving shared goals. The PAN is just
one strategy identified in Oneisomw's holistic fisheries management plan. Other
strategies identified that address fisheries are banning nighttime
spearfishing, net size limits, and fish size limits.
This bright spot brings the FSM that much closer – one Community
at a time, one State at a time – to achieving its goals linked to the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) platform, specifically SDG
1,2,3,5-13, 14, and 15 – commitment to the UNCBD Program of Work for Protected
Areas and the UNFCCC’s ecosystem/community-based adaptation.
Finally, through the MOU endorsement, Oneisomw’s marine PAN will
become the first site legally declared under the Chuuk State’s PAN law, thereby
making it eligible to receive funding from the Micronesia Challenge Endowment
Fund once the FSM puts in place a National PAN Policy Framework.
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| Reef owners signing MOU and witnessed by partner organizations: Marcelus Akapito - Chuuk Conservation Society, William Kostka - Micronesia Conservation Trust, and Ricky Carl - The Nature Conservancy, Micronesia Program |
