Palau to Ban Commercial Fishing

Saltwater Nation: Palau

President Tommy Remengesau Jr. of Palau announced today during a keynote talk at the United Nations that Palau intends to ban all commercial fishing and establish its waters as a marine sanctuary. Remengesau’s announcement came during a U.N. meeting about “Healthy Oceans and Seas.”

President Remengesau did say that current fishing agreements with Japan, Taiwan, and some private companies will remain in place until they expire, but will not be renewed. Once the contracts expire, only island residents and tourists will be permitted to fish within Palau’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

Remengesau intends to establish a marine sanctuary in order to promote “a pristine environment” ideal for ecotourism as an economic focus for the country.

In 2009, Palau established the world’s first shark sanctuary and banned all commercial shark fishing in its territorial waters. Likewise, Palau has also put in place stringent laws regarding bottom trawling.

In 2012, UNESCO identified Palau’s Rock Islands Southern Lagoon a World Heritage site.

Remengesau, who is a fisherman, has identified that a live shark is worth $1.9 million to his country as a tourist attraction, while a dead shark is only worth a few hundred dollars when sold at market.

Remengesau also indicated that Palau is working to obtain radar equipment and drones to help enforce its commercial fishing ban.