NATURAL RESOURCES Planning: MARINE
Learn more about GCMP Marine Planning
The Guam Coastal Management Program is responsible for marine planning within the Government of Guam’s Bureau of Statistics and Plans. This program is focused on the responsible and balanced use of coastal resources, demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable ocean management, and aims to build trust among stakeholders.
Within the Marine Conservation District, GCMP focuses on developing management plans for marine and marine-adjacent areas and assessing the biological and natural resource impacts for Federal Consistency and land-use application reviews. Additionally, advancing marine technology is a priority, particularly for the management, conservation, preservation, and socio-economic utilization of coastal resources.
Guam Seashore Reserve Plan
In 1974, Guam’s 12th Legislature passed P.L. 12-108, the Guam Territorial Seashore Protection Act. This Act created the Seashore Reserve and required a Seashore Reserve Plan to protect, preserve, and manage this resource. The purpose of the Plan is to implement the Act to preserve and protect the Seashore Reserve for current and future generations. Development within the Reserve should be minimized. When it cannot be avoided, the Plan offers guidelines and outlines permit requirements for such development.
Members of the 12th Guam Legislature.
Backyard Bouys Project
The Backyard Buoys project enables Indigenous and coastal communities to manage their ocean data through affordable, community-operated buoys independently. By providing accessible web-based applications, Backyard Buoys combines advanced technology with Indigenous knowledge to support maritime activities, food security, and coastal hazard protection. Its goal is to foster self-reliant, sustainable communities that understand and safeguard their environment for a resilient future.
As part of the Backyard Buoys project, GCMP received two Sofar Ocean Spotter buoys from the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) to deploy in Guam to gather nearshore ocean and wave data for the community. The two Spotter buoys were deployed in southern Guam – one between Anae Island and Facpi Point in Hågat, and the other near Mamaon Channel in Malesso’.
Note: Both buoys are presently out of service, and GCMP is actively working to deploy replacement units to ensure continuous data collection for the community.
GCMP played a crucial role in fulfilling a mandate of Guam P.L. 36-108, which was signed into law on September 29, 2022, by creating suitability guidelines for cable landings on Guam and a corresponding GIS WebTool. This legislation grants the Chamorro Land Trust Commission the authority to enter into commercial submerged land license agreements with telecommunication companies. The suitability guidelines provide a structure for siting cable landing sites on Guam that factor in key marine resources.
Below you will find the “Submerged Cable Landing Guidelines.”
Coral Reef Fish Population Assessment
The Bureau of Statistics and Plans’ Guam Coastal Management Program provided contractual support to the Guam Department of Agriculture through the NOAA Office for Coastal Management Cooperative Agreement NA21NOS4190154 for the preparation of a fisheries population assessment for Guam coral-reef fishes, which will inform the development of the Guam Coastal Fisheries Management Plan.
For more information on Guam Marine Preserves and Fishing Laws, please visit our network agency partner’s website at the Guam Coral Reef Initiative, under the Guam Department of Agriculture.
GET TO KNOW US
Camille Quichocho
Biologist, Guam Coastal Management Program
Camille is passionate para i tasi. She grew up in and around the ocean. As any islander knows inherently, Camille has a healthy fear and respect of the blue expanse that surrounds our shores. She strives to protect the ocean and safeguard its plants and animals, especially those who call the coral reef home. After learning to swim at 16, the ocean has become Camille’s laboratory. Camille joined the Bureau of Statistics and Plans, Guam Coastal Management Program in January 2024, where she serves as the Lead Biologist for the Marine Conservation District. Her background is in agriculture and natural resource science, and her work experiences range from marine ecology to natural resource management. Camille manages the Guam Seashore Reserve Plan and Recreational Water-Use Management Plan (RWUMP), and contributes to the Guam Aquaculture Task Force, Mariana Islands Area Contingency Plan Committee, Application Review Committee/Territorial Seashore Protection Committee, and USACE Regulatory.
camille.quichocho@bsp.guam.gov. | 671-475-9664
Contact Us
- P.O. Box 2950 Hagatna, Guam 96932
- (671) 472-4201/2/3
management and staff
- Lola Leon Guerrero - Director - lolalg@bsp.guam.gov
- Matthew Santos - Dep. Director - matthew.santos@bsp.guam.gov
divisions
find us
- 513 W Marine Dr. Hagåtña, Guam 96910
