KOROR (Palau Horizon) – The Senate last week passed on third and final reading the measure which will prohibit the feeding of sharks within the country’s territorial waters.
The bill penalizes any person violating the ban.
Senate Bill No. 8-106 stated that the act of feeding sharks may cause shark to associate human beings with food and could create an increased safety risk for all individuals in Palau waters.
Under the measure any person violating the section will be guilty of misdemeanor and when convicted shall be fined of an amount not more than $1,000 and sentenced to not more than 90 days in prison.
The measure said that the violators will also be sentenced to not more than 90 days in prison if actions leading to a conviction occurred in a state’s territorial waters , then 25 percent of the monetary penalty collected will be remitted to the treasury of the state government.
Earlier, President Johnson Toribiong declared Palau’s entire Exclusive Economic Zone as shark sanctuary.
The president in earlier interviews said although there is only one patrol boat at Palau’s disposal, he is calling other nations to respect his efforts.
He said that he will be sending letters to the Taiwan and Japan governments to respect Palau’s EEZ.
He added that this is the first step and he is hopeful that the effort will spring into cooperation from other nations.
