National Oceanic Resource Management Authority

Contact Information

 

National Oceanic Resource Management Authority
Kaselehlie Building
National Government Complex
Palikir, Pohnpei 96941

 

P.O. BOX PS-122,

PALIKIR POHNPEI 96941

 

Telephone:

+691 320-2700

+691 320-5181

Facsimile:

+691 320-2383

 

E-mail:

General Information: info@norma.fm   

 

The Authority, initially named Micronesian Maritime Authority (MMA), was established in Public Law (PL) 6-11 and began operation on January 1, 1979.  The mandate of the Authority was to manage, conserve and manage FSM’s living marine resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  Its establishment took place upon the international acceptance of the EEZ regime and the nation’s claim to a 200 Mile Extended Fishery Zone through the effective of PL 6-11.

In 1996, the FSM Fisheries Summit was convened by the National Government following the First Economic Summit of the FSM held in 1995. One of the major recommendations of the Fisheries Summit was the need to bring the FSM’s fisheries laws, Title 24 of the FSM Code (24FSMC), up to date taking into account the most recent trends and developments in the field of fisheries management and development. Of particular significance was the need to incorporate FSM’s obligations under regional and international arrangements, agreements, treaties, into the law. A legal expert in fisheries law was retained in 1996 to review the law and make recommendations to revise 24FSMC.

In 2000, the Authority’s name was changed to Micronesian Fisheries Authority (MFA) but with still the specific focus on fisheries management and fisheries management related issues.  After more than seven years of consultations between the national and state governments and input from the industry and relevant stakeholders, the 12th Congress passed Congressional Bill No. 12-31 in January 2002 to amend 24FSMC as amended, by repealing certain Chapters and enacting new Chapters and to establish the Marine Resources Act of 2002 (MRA 2002).

On the 8^th of March 2002, MFA officially became the National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA) with clear overarching mandates for sustainable management and use of the marine (living and non-living) resources to achieve economic, social, and environmental sustainability. These changes came about through a more comprehensive review and overhaul of Title 24 of the FSM Code through what is now the Marine Resources Act of 2002. Marine Resources Act of 2002 Becomes Public Law 12-34.

 

 

“Effective Guardian on Living and Non-living Marine Resources in the FSM EEZ”