Delegates Rebluud Kesolei and Marhence Madrangchar said they introduced House Bill 8-120 in order to protect the population of sea cucumbers.
Currently there are no restrictions on the export of sea cucumbers.
According to the bill, it will be unlawful for any person to fish for, sell, receive, export, cause to be exported, possess or buy any of the following species of sea cucumber: (member of the class holothuroidea) including but not limited to black teatfish (bakelungal), prickly white redfish (temetamel), surf redfish (badelchelid), sandfish (mlech delal a molech) and Actinopyga miliaris.
Sea cucumbers are marine animals of the class Holothuroidea used in fresh or dried form in various cuisines. There are more than 900 species of sea cucumbers in Palau
The bill also prohibits the selling or export of groupers (temakai tiau) from April 1 to July 31.
It will also be illegal to fish for, sell, receive or export rabbitfish (meyas, siganus canaliculatus) from Feb. 1 to March 31.
Likewise, it will be unlawful to fish for, sell, receive or export rock lobsters (chereprukl), raiklus, bleached or melech smaller than three and one half inches in total length of the carapace or a berried female of any size whatsoever.
The bill, moreover, will not allow the export of humphead parrotfish (kemedulk berdebed), coconut crab, mangrove crab, rock lobster, wrasse and clams.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment for review.
