According to Tino Kloulechad, some of the old buoys that were placed around the conservation area were reported missing. The lines that held the buoys to their anchoring pins had deteriorated and probably broke off during the recent storms.
Kloulechad further added that people who are unfamiliar with the Northern Reefs have wandered into the conservation area.“Most people are aware of the Ebiil Conservation Area,” Kloulechad said. “However without the demarcation buoys, people have unknowingly entered the area.”Ngarchelong State conservation officers report that other people have knowingly entered the area to fish and when confronted, had used the absence of the demarcation buoys as part of their pleas to be exempted from any consequences.PCS has been working closely with Ngarchelong State to monitor Ebiil Conservation Area. PCS has trained the state’s conservation officers and has conducted and kept data of the marine life that thrives in Ebiil Conservation Area. Thirteen demarcation buoys were originally installed to designate Ebiil Conservation Area. Most of the buoys were installed in 2000. Each of buoys cost about $285 – excluding anchoring pins, attachment cables, and other installation costs.“The cost of installing the buoys is high,” the officers said. “Without the support of PCS, other organizations, and individual volunteers, the task of monitoring Ebiil would be too immense.”Kloulechad and two of the state’s conservation officers, Einer Kebekol and Leslie Ngiramolau, reinstalled two of five missing buoys.The conservation officers hope to reinstall all of the missing buoys to ensure that the conservation area is clearly marked and that boaters would be able to navigate around the area without entering it.Ebiil Conservation Area was established in 2000 in the Northern Reefs. It was designated a “no entry” and “no take” marine protected area.
