By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

The Palau International Coral Reef Center, as part of its 6th Anniversary celebration is providing a free aquarium school tours starting yesterday.
The free aquarium tours to students are part of the anniversary celebration of PICRC.
The anniversary celebration kicked off as early as Jan. 10 with a radio talk show and a 5-kilometer Walk which started from PICRC to the Old President’s Office in Meyuns.
A 10 kilometer walk coincided with the 5K walk which started from PICRC to Palau Pacific Resort back to PICRC.
On Jan. 18, the PICRC will also be conducting free Aquarium tours to public and a Fundraising Dinner will be held the same night.
According to the Center’s website ,PICRC is a project that is part of a Common Agenda for Cooperation between Japan and the United States.
In February 1997, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a project formulation study. Discussions and project development planning sessions then followed between the Japanese, US and Palauan representatives which lead to agreements on the project between the sponsor nations.
Thd Palau National Congress passed approval of House Bill No. 5-123-75 in November 1997, which became RPPL 5-17 signed into law by President Nakamura.
It added that the PICRC Act of 1997 was established to support a self-sustaining, non-profit coral reef center and marine park that will provide a forum for coral reef studies, research and education.
"The Center is designed to assist in improving the management, use and conservation of Palau’s and the world’s marine environment, in addition to serving as a tourist attraction. In cooperation with Japan, the United States and other countries, the Center will ensure that future generations will enjoy the reefs as this and prior generations have," the website stated.