Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
Located just north of Guam in the western Pacific, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is a three-hundred mile archipelago consisting of 14 islands, with a total land area of 183.5 square miles. The principal inhabited islands are Saipan, Rota and Tinian. The northern, largely uninhabited islands are Farallon de Medinilla, Anatahan, Sariguan, Gudgeon, Alamagan, Pagan, Agrihan, Asuncion, Maug Islands, and Farallon de Pajaro. Saipan is approximately 3,300 miles from Honolulu and 3000 miles from Sydney. The majority of the CNMI's residents live on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, the capital and largest of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Mariana Islands are on the edge of the Philippine Plate. They were formed by underwater volcanoes along the Marianas Trench. The northern islands are high volcanic islands and the southern islands, while volcanic in origin, are nearly all covered with uplifted limestone derived from coral reefs. These southern islands have the oldest and most developed reefs in the CNMI, which are predominantly located along the western (leeward) sides.
Saipan has the most diverse types of coral reefs and associated habitats in the CNMI. A fringing and barrier reef system protects the majority of the beaches along the western and coastal plains. The western side of the island is the most populated and the coral reefs along these areas are negatively affected by human activity. Continuing sediment and nutrient pollution, combined with sporadic stressors such as outbreaks of crown-of - thorns starfish (COTS) and bleaching, affect many of Saipan's western and southeastern reefs.
Coral reef ecosystems in the CNMI are, on the whole, reasonably healthy. However, environmental stressors acting synergitically with anthropogenic stressors, such as nonpoint source pollution and fishing pressure, have clearly affected areas in proximity to the populated southern islands. From a fisheries perspective, the northern islands and more distant banks and reefs appear to be in better condition than those closer to population centers.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands location map
Northern Mariana Islands satellite map
State of The Reefs Report (SOTR)
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2005.
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002.
Metadata, Data and Publications Search in CoRIS
Search the CoRIS Data & Publications Section for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands metadata, data and publications
ReefBase Coral Bleaching Reports
Select "Micronesia" in the Region window and "Northern Mariana Islands" in the Country window.
Other Data & Information
Shallow-water Benthic Habitat Maps of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
Maps of Saipan and Tinian
Weather Forecast
Records and averages for Saipan, CNMI
Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Center
Real Time and Near-Real Time Monitoring Data
Coral Reef Watch Satellite Coral Bleaching Monitoring
CREI Moored Instruments with Telemetry
Key Documents
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas' Coral Reef Initiative Program
CNMI long-term coral reef monitoring program
Executive orders, Secretarial Orders, and Congressional Acts
Micronesia Coral Reef Initiative
CNMI Local Action Strategy
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Research Plan
Education and Outreach
Coastal Resources Management
http://www.crm.gov.mp/
http://www.crm.gov.mp/programs/monitoring/how.asp
UNEP Islands Web Site: http://islands.unep.ch/CLY.htm
DOI Office of Insular Affairs
CIA Factbook
Marine Protected Areas/Marine Managed Areas
National Marine Fisheries Service Inventory of Marine Managed Areas
Report on the Status of Marine Protected Areas in Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States. Volume 1: Marine Protected Areas Managed by U.S. States, Territories, and Commonwealths. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 2 February 2007
Marine Protected Areas of the United States Home Page
The Marine Protected Areas Inventory
Federal MPA Legislation
Marine Federal Areas Fact Sheet
Executive order 13158: Marine Protected Areas
MPA Virtual Library
CNMI Marine Managed and Marine Protected Areas, as well as Wildlife Conservation Areas
CNMI Protected Areas Program
MPA Inventory for CNMI Now Available Online
Bird Island
Bird Island marine Sanctuary
Bird Island Sea Cucumber Reserve
Bird Island Wildlife Conservation Area
Forbidden Island Marine Sanctuary
Laulau Bay Sea Cucumber Reserve
Lighthouse Reef Trochus Reserve
Northern Marianas Islands Conservation Areas
Ofu Vaoto Marine Park
Sasanhaya Fish Reserve
Tank Beach Trochus Reserve
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