Last week the Island was closed after Gov. Adachi signed the Koror State Public Law (KSPL) No. K9-216-2010 on April 23, 2010.
However fishing within 200 yards is still permitted.. But Adachi said he is asking the legislature to reinstate the no fishing zone within one mile of the Islands’ buffer zone including the diving spot.
Gov. Yositaka Adachi said, Ngemelis Islands have a great abundance of marine species and closing the islands from diving activity is one way of protecting marine life.
The governor also believes that closing the Islands has no direct impact of the tourism business in Koror.
“Large portion of the revenues derived are from the visitors to Rock Islands. If the tourists have reduced, it’s because of the global financial crisis, but not the closing and opening of the islands,” Adachi said in an interview.
This is the second amendment pertaining to the closing of the Ngemelis islands. The first amendments was on 2007-2008 which calls for the lifting the restrictions of the Ngemelis islands and opening it again for tourist and diving activity area.
Adachi added that before the law was signed which calls for the closing of the Ngemelis Island, members of the legislators conducted public hearing asking opinion of the locals and non-governmental organizations in Palau.
