NMI wants a share

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana islands (CMI) is eyeing the impending tuna treaty and would like to be able to control its own territorial waters and make deals with foreign fishermen, just like the other island territories.

That FSM, the Marshalls and Palau will all get cash and other considerations from the treaty has not been lost on CMI.

The commonwealth, however, has opted for a different kind of relationship with the U.S. and the Federal Department of Interior is not enthusiastic about the prospect of NMI having those powers. “If they control the fishing rights, then California and Florida will make similar claims and then where are we?” One interior Department source asked.

The waters around the Marianas are not regarded as major fishing grounds by the U.S. tuna industry, but U.S. tunaboats do visit Tinian to tranship their catches to refrigerated freighters heading for U.S. canneries.