President Johnson Toribiong when asked for comments on the United Nation rejection of a proposal for shark protection said that the country’s efforts to protect sharks will continue.
“We may have lost,but we will try again,” the president said.
Last year, President Toribiong before the United Nations General Assembly declared Palau as the world’s first sanctuary.
The challenge however is patrolling the 240,000 square-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country, when there is only one patrol boat at its disposal.
“We are looking for support from our friends,” Toribiong said.
He said that not getting the support of Japan and other big nations in the efforts against shark fishing will not be a stumbling block in the fight.
“It will not deter us from our commitment to protect shark species. We must be faithful to that declaration,” the president said.
Earlier President Toribiong hasurged international respect for the decision to compensate for its lack of enforcement ability.
Toribiong, who described sharks as “a natural barometer for the health of our oceans”, appealed to world leaders to join Palau’s effort to protect the sharks.
Palau has a shark fishing law which carries a $250,000 US fine for fishing, mutilation and transport of sharks in Palau waters.
Shark fishing remains a lucrative business, especially with the demand in parts of Asia for shark’s fin soup In Palau waters, there are more than 70 foreign fishing vessels, many of them operating illegally.
About 130 shark species are found in Palau waters.
Palau’s economy heavily reliant on tourism and fishing.
Much of the tourist activity is centered on diving and snorkelling in tropical waters filled with coral reefs, marine life and World War II wrecks.
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