The Senate version agrees with the House on the importance of hawksbill and other species of turtle to the country and the need to impose a moratorium on the hunting and killing of these marine creatures.
“Turtles have a rich history in the Republic of Palau, providing central characters for Palauan cultural legends, and acting as attractions for visitors and local residents of Palau. They are undoubtedly a valuable marine resource for the Republic, “the bill reads.
The bill also noted that in addition to being used as food, turtle and turtle shells have historically been used to make money, decorations, jewelry and medicines.
The Senate also agreed with the House that there should be a ban for five years on the taking and killing of hawksbill turtles. The Senate said the ban is meant to preserve and conserve the endangered turtle specie.
The bill noted that citizens have expressed concerns about the lack of good-sized turtle shells for monetary value, the reduced presence of turtles as attraction for diving and snorkeling tours, and the upkeep of Palau’s responsibility to the world within the scheme of global conservation.
“Based on the aforementioned findings and concerns expressed by citizens, the Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that it is in the best interest of the people of the Republic of Palau, and the people of the global community of which the Republic is a part, to implement more stringent legislation concerning the taking and intentional killing of turtles, and to clarify which takings are legal and which are illegal,” the bill concludes.
The bill states that for five years after the effective date of this Act no hawksbill turtles or sea turtles shall be taken or intentionally killed while on shore, nor their eggs be taken.
The bill further states that no hawksbill turtle shall be taken or killed except when shell is at least 27 inches when measured over the top of the carapace shell lengthwise.
Also, it provides that no green sea turtle of any species shall be killed except whose shell is at least 34 inches when measured over the top of the carapace shell lengthwise.
However, the bill allows for some exceptions.
The bill provides that the taking of sea turtles and their eggs shall be allowed for specific purposes when specifically authorized by the President.
A person violating the provisions of this law shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year and six months and fined not more than $100, $200, $500 and $1,000, or both for each individual specimen of turtle taken or killed.
Delegate Kalistus Ngirturong introduced the bill in 2009 in the hope that it will protect the endangered hawksbill turtle in Palau from eventual extinction.
The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E. imbricata bissa is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Human fishing practices threaten E. imbricata populations with extinction. The World Conservation Union classifies the hawksbill as critically endangered. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species outlaws the capture and trade of hawksbill turtles and products derived from them.
Because the bill has been approved by both houses of Congress, it now goes to Palau President Johnson Toribiong for his signature. The President is expected to sign the bill into law.
