Campaign launches to help keep Laolao Bay litter free for generations

Laolao Bay is one of the most important environmental and cultural sites in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Our Laolao initiative aims to demonstrate what a difference motivated community members can make when they have an opportunity to protect places they cherish. Our Laolao will do that by first giving community members the opportunity to speak out about why they want to protect Laolao Bay. Through the stories of people such as Father Jesse Reyes, fisherman Roman Benavente, and teacher Rita Guerrero, the campaign aims to capture why people value the bay, and in turn, inspire other Laolao users to help keep Laolao Bay litter free for generations.

The campaign will share their stories through its website, local events and the media. Campaign organizers encourage more people to visit the site, OurLaolao.com, share their Laolao stories to help make the bay litter free, and keep an eye out for campaign promotions in the near future.

The campaign will also shine a light on the rich cultural and environmental value of the bay and what community members can to do protect it, including upcoming beach cleanups in May and July.

The Our Laolao campaign is a collaborative effort between the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Coastal Resources Management (CRM), the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA), the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, and SeaWeb.