PACIFIC/SAIPAN: experts studying Laulau bay reef

EXPERTS STUDYING LAULAU BAY REEF

By John Ravelo

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, July 25) - The Coastal Resources Management 
Office has allowed the University of Pennsylvania to collect two species of 
sclerosponges from the reef on Laulau Bay, the health of which has reportedly 
been deteriorating possibly due to sedimentation runoff.

The CRMO conditionally allowed the university to collect a maximum of 15 
pieces of each species, scientifically known as Acanthocheatetes wellsi and 
Astroclera willeyana.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
sclerosponges are slow-growing calcareous organisms that secrete their 
skeletons in carbon and oxygen isotopic equilibrium with their environment, 
and can therefore provide proxy records of salinity and water temperature 
over a 100- to 1,000-year time range.

The study partly aims to determine changes in carbon dioxide levels within 
the Bay.

Relatedly, the CRMO, the Division of Environmental Quality, and the Northern 
Marianas College's Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Services 
have been working together to document the sedimentation problem on Laulau 
Bay.

A joint team from these agencies installed sediment traps-a device made of 
pipes that will catch sediments underwater. These would be used to gauge how 
bad sedimentation in the area is.

Besides the environmental concern, CRMO marine biologist John Starmer had 
underscored the tourism aspect of attaining good water quality on Laulau Bay, 
which serves as a favorite diving spot for visitors.

According to Starmer, the Northern Marianas Dive Operators Association had 
already expressed concern over the deteriorating marine water quality of the 
Bay.

July 25, 2003

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