Friends of the Mariana Trench

10/04/2026

Hafa Adai/Tirow Fellow Ocean Enthusiasts,

🔔 Due to Tropical Depression 04W, which appears to be heading towards the Marianas, all Marianas Fisher Community Meetings have been POSTPONED until further notice.

May God bless you all and your families! Stay safe and stay prepared!

07/04/2026

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council), in partnership with the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG), is hosting a Saipan Fishers Community Meeting this April. This brief meeting will share outcomes from the 2025 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Community Consultations. The Council and PIFG are continuing to listen to community perspectives on federal fisheries, including challenges to fishing and long-term trends, to improve engagement and plan for the future.

The Saipan Fishers Community Meeting will take place on Monday, April 13, 2026, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Azucena Room in Garapan.

Refreshments will be provided!

Please help spread the word to ALL your fisher friends and anyone who may be interested in attending. Please see the attached flyer.

19/02/2026

Though this post comes a little late, appreciation is never out of season. 🌱

This Presidents Day, we take a pause to recognize and honor the leaders whose actions and decisions helped shape the protection of our environment and the future of our islands and our planet. From establishing protected areas to championing stewardship, their legacies remind us that caring for our natural resources is a responsibility we all share.

Here in the Marianas, that stewardship continues to inspire our work and our community every day.

It may be late, but gratitude is always on time. 💙

06/02/2026

Forever remembered, forever missed - our +Lino U.M. Olopai.

Thank you for the legacy you leave with us. 🕊️
Rest in peace. Your life touched more hearts than you may ever know, and your teachings now shine among the stars ✨, guiding our people always.

02/02/2026

🌿💧 Happy World Wetlands Day | CNMI Edition 💧🌿

Wetlands might look calm… but they’re low-key superheroes 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️
They protect our shores, filter our water, reduce flooding, and provide homes for fish, birds, and cultural resources we all depend on.

Here in the CNMI, wetlands = mangroves, marshes, and coastal lowlands that keep our islands thriving 💙

15/01/2026

📢 Registration is now open for the 2026 EarthEcho International Youth Leadership Summit: Building ResilienSEA, taking place January 29-February 1! Youth ages 13-25 are invited to join peers in cities around the world and virtually to explore climate change and sea level rise, strengthen coastal and community resilience, and build leadership skills to drive local climate solutions.
✍️ Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/giH8W7Me


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📢 Youth leaders ages 13–25 are invited to ’s 2026 Youth Leadership Summit: Building ResilienSEA, happening January 29-February 1! Connect with peers in your city or virtually to explore climate change and sea level rise, strengthen coastal and community resilience, and gain the skills to take meaningful action in your community.

✍️ Register today to join in person or online: https://lnkd.in/giH8W7Me

07/01/2026

🌊 Celebrating 17 years of protecting the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument 🌊

Established on January 6, 2009, this monument safeguards one of the most unique and biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth—right here in the Mariana Archipelago. We honor the deep ocean, our islands, and the community efforts that helped protect this special place for future generations.

07/01/2026

Listen, Consider, & Comment!🪼🗣

The entire community is invited to engage in a free community forum on 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 to deepen understanding of the potential impacts of deep sea mining in the Marianas.

This is your crucial opportunity to learn more about the issue and to be heard before the January 12, 2026 public comment deadline.

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲! 🌊
📅Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026
⏰Time: 5:30PM - 7:00PM
📍Venue: indoor amphitheater, American Memorial Park

🪸Hear in-person presentations from Pacific experts on the potential impacts of offshore and deep sea mining in the Marianas:
• Dr. Jeffrey Drazen, Deep Sea Ecologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Dr. Sean DLG MacDuff, Superintendent of Mariana Trench Marine National Monument

Presentations will be followed by Q&A and open forum.

Learn about deep sea mining and make your voice heard before the January 12, 2026 public comment deadline.

For more information, please reach out to Kelsey McClellan at (670) 237-6747 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

05/01/2026

Having trouble writing your comment on the Deep-Sea Mining topic? You’re not alone! Friends of the Mariana Trench has created a simple template guide to help you get started. 🤝

If you are interested in gaining more details and information you can access BOEM's detailed guidelines for developing a comment at https://www.regulations.gov/commenting-guidance or join our Community Learn and Share Group Chat to learn more pinned on our Profile Page!

23/12/2025

Join the Earthjustice for the COMMENT WORKSHOP Part 2 on Tuesday, JAN. 6, 2026 at 12pm CHST via ZOOM. The workshop is free and space is limited. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/nodsm2.
Or use the link in our bio.

This workshop will expand upon the previous discussion and focus on unprincipled claims of the financial benefits of deep sea mining efforts, a review of international law, and insights from Earthjustice’s comment for Guam. A brief recap of the first workshop will also be provided.

This session will be facilitated by experts and colleagues from Earthjustice, a non-profit public interest law firm based in San Francisco with regional offices throughout the U.S.. The panel includes:

* Harley Broyles, Esq., Earthjustice Mid-Pacific Office, Hawai’i
* J.V. Langkilde, Esq., Earthjustice Tribal Partnerships Program
* Mae Manupipatpong, Esq., Earthjustice International Program

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) posted a notice in the Federal Register, Nov. 12, 2025 for the Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf (OSC) Minerals Offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Request for Information and Interest (RIF). BOEM is initiating the first steps that could potentially lead to a lease for minerals on the OCS just offshore from the CNMI by publishing this RFI. Nearly 100 square miles of the waters surrounding the Marianas Trench National Marine Monument have been identified for mining. This RFI is not a final decision to lease and public comments are needed to oppose this harmful proposal. All comments are now due JANUARY 12, 2026.

Check out the comment toolkit:
https://tinyurl.com/dsmtoolkit

For more information, please DM or email us: [email protected].

22/12/2025

🔔REMINDER🔔

The Office of the Governor invites the CNMI community to join us for the Town Hall Meeting on the Federal Seabed Mineral Leasing RFI on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the Governor Pedro P.
Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. Come learn, ask questions, and share your thoughts. Your participation helps ensure our community’s voices are heard.

🔔PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!🔔

Your voice matters! The Office of the Governor is inviting the CNMI community to attend a Town Hall Meeting on the Federal Seabed Mineral Leasing Request for Information (RFI) on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the Governor Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. This is an important opportunity to learn how potential federal actions may affect our ocean, environment, and way of life - and to share your concerns, questions, and perspectives directly. We encourage all community members to attend and ensure CNMI voices are heard before the public comment deadline of January 12, 2026 EST (January 13, 2026 Chst).