National Oceanic Resource Management Authority
National Oceanic Resource Management Authority
The mission of the Authority is to be an effective guardian and manager of the marine resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Federated States of Micronesia for people living today and for generations of citizens to come. The Authority works to:
The Authority consists of five Board of Directors, appointed by the President subject to the advice and consent of Congress. Four of the five are appointed after consultations with the Four States and one appointed at-large (in accordance with Section 301 of the Title 24). Its organization involves a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and its members to adopt regulations and to have duties and responsibilities (as prescribed in Section 302 and Section 303 of the Title 24) for the sustainable management, development, and use of fisheries resources in the EEZ. All appointed members of the Authority shall serve a two-year term (as stipulated in Section 301) and unless otherwise terminated by death, incapacity, resignation, or removal from office by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Authority.
The Executive management is headed by Executive Director, under whose supervision overall operations of NORMA are carried out. It is supported by a Deputy Director and three divisional Chiefs. The Divisions are the Management & Development; Statistics, Compliance & Technical Projects; and Research.
The Deputy Director acts in the absence of the Executive Director and is responsible for the day to day operations of NORMA, supervising staff, preparing fisheries negotiation strategies including compiling statistics and data analysis, administer all foreign and domestic fishing agreements, regional and international agreements and treaties the FSM is party to, provide technical assistance to States, develop policy regarding fisheries and fisheries development in general, and implement policies.
While NORMA plays an important role in the development of the tuna fisheries sector, its principal role is limited to facilitating and providing advice as the development of the fisheries sector is within the portfolio of the Department of Resources and Development (R&D). Therefore, close collaboration with the R&D is critical in the delivery of NORMA’s mandate.
