Palau urged other nations to join him in quest. Palau however has only one patrol ship to monitor its waters.
The pronouncement made by Toribiong will protect about 237,000 square miles of ocean.President in his speech also called other nations for a worldwide ban on shark finning at the same time urged other heads of states to join him in an effort to protect the sharks.“It is anomalous that Palau is experiencing economic difficulty while it sits in the middle of the richest waters in the world. We can no longer stand by while foreign vessels illicitly come to our waters to take our greatest resource, our tuna stocks, without regard to their conservation and without regard for adequate compensation to the island states which rely on this resource,” Toribiong stated.In 2003, former Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. signed the anti-shark fishing legislation.Palau law bans commercial shark fishing, foreign fishing boats are prohibited from shark fishing, mutilation and transport within the waters of Palau.The law imposes $250,000 fine per offense.In March of 2009, a proposed legislation was introduced in Palau Congress to permit shark fishing, which will essentially repeal the anti-shark fishing law. The measure has been deferred and was scheduled to be tackled in the Senate’s Oct. regular session.In his speech the president also called for an end to bottom-trawling. The president in his speech also said he will work for the establishment of OTEC, the Organization of Tuna Exporting Countries to obtain fair value from” our threatened resource and to make tuna fishing sustainable. “Dermot Keane, founder of the Palau Shark Sanctuary lauded President Toribiong’s initiative.He said Palau has a strong shark protection statute, the president’s efforts places “Palau in the forefront of marine conservation and shark protection.”Palau Shark Sanctuary was founded in 2001 and seeks a declaration by Palau establishing the waters of Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone as a sanctuary for all sharks.Keane said members of the community and the tourism association is planning a big welcome for the president when he returns to Palau . Keane said the president’s message it very clear that Palau will no longer allow developing nations to threaten the marine ecosystem of the country.Keane said this takes marine conservation and shark protection into a new level.He said that environment is a source of Palau’s economy, this initiative he said sends a strong message that “shark fishing is no longer acceptable and that the country will enforce its laws and those who violate it should be held liable.”There are about 130 shark species found in Palau waters.
