During the closing ceremony of the week-long Micronesian Shark Foundation (MSF) shark week, Toribiong requested participants and local dignitaries as well not to patronize commercial establishments that put shark fin soup or meat in their menu.
“Boycott all restaurants and businesses into the commercial trading of sharks,” the president said.
Various divers from at least 20 different countries participated in the program which includes shark-diving, shark-themes seminars and activities.
The president also appealed to the participants to help Palau spread the word on the conservation of sharks.
“Spread this gospel of conservation around the world,” the president said.
Last year, the president declared Palau as the first world’s shark sanctuary to end commercial shark fishing in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
He however said that the challenge is Palau’s capability to patrol the country’s 240,000 square mile EEZ.
Palau has only one patrol boat at its disposal.
“The challenge now is how to effectively patrol our waters,” Toribiong said.
Toribiong in an interview lauded MSF founder Tova Harel Bornovski for her vision.
He said long before he made an announcement declaring Palau waters as a shark sanctuary, Bornovski was among the frontrunner in shark protection.
During the shark week, international organizations such as Save Our Seas, Australian Institute of Marine Science representatives gave lecture on shark conservation.
Palau Conservation Society and the MSF speakers meanwhile talked about the local conservation efforts being conducted.
The MSF is a Palauan-based, non-profit foundation which aim is to research and monitor sharks of Palau as well as scientific shark data collection.
Dr. Mark Meekan, during his lecture stated that grey reefs are primarily resident rather than migratory.
The MSF has established a community monitoring program which involved recording of information on sharks sighted at various dive sites to complement the research and an education program to teach local school children about the importance of sharks.
Participants joining the Shark Week are divers from Norway, Russia, Latvia, Germany Australia, England, Brazil, New Zealand, Italy, Israel and Czech Republic among others.
