TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 1: MARITIME AND COASTAL RESOURCES
§ 1651. Marine Reserve Area. This article shall create a marine reserve area, to be located from the Southwest Carolinas Point to the Tinian Recreational Boat harbor, specifically encompassing all the areas from Tachogna Beach, Taga Beach, YCC Beach, Kammer Beach, and Tinian Harbor, from the high-tide mark on shore to one-half mile out to the reef. The Department of Lands and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Tinian Resident Director of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, shall delineate the boundaries of said areas by installing buoys to ensure that the boundaries are visible to the general public. Source: PL 15-90, § 2; PL 17-14 § 2 (September 24, 2010), modified. Commission Comment: The Commission changed all occurrences of “this Act” to “this article” pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(d). PL 15-90, enacted on October 2, 2007, contained severability and savings clause provisions and the following: Section 1. Findings and Purposes. The Commonwealth Legislature finds that there is a need to preserve the marine environment for its natural and pristine beauty, and to regulate the fishing and harvesting of other marine life in the area located from the Southwest Carolinas Point to Puntan Diablo Point to Tachogna Beach. The Commonwealth Legislature further finds that the protection of marine life in this area will be best accomplished by establishing a marine reserve area wherein fishing and other potentially harmful activities to the marine life shall be restricted. The purpose of this act is to restrict activities in said area and to provide for penalties. PL 17-14 (effective September 24, 2010) included the following: Section 1. Findings and Purpose. The Legislature finds that Public Law 15-90 created a marine reserve area on the island of Tinian from Southwest Carolinas Point to Puntan Diablo. However, the Legislature finds that during these difficult economic times the restrictions on fishing within the marine reserve has caused hardship on those Tinian residents that rely on subsistence fishing. Further, when considering the possibility that the U.S. military may in the future prohibit entry into other traditional fishing areas on Tinian, residents must be allowed increased access to fishing grounds for subsistence purposes. Therefore, it is the purpose of this Act to amend Section 2 of Public Law 15-90 by decreasing the restricted area for fishing within the marine reserve.