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.

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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