Palau to create the world’s first “shark sanctuary”

Conservationists have welcomed the announcement of a national shark sanctuary in Palau’s waters, but are concerned about the big challenge of monitoring the vast area.Palau President Johnson Toribiong made the announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The sanctuary will put an end to all commercial shark fishing in Palau’s waters and provide protection for sharks to live and reproduce in the more than 621,000 square kilometres of ocean. But the country’s ability to defend its exclusive economic zone from foreign fishing vessels is a major challenge.
Dermot Keane is founder of the conservation group Palau Shark Sanctuary, which has campaigned for many years to have Palau’s waters officially protected.
He says while the shark population in the area is not under threat, numbers are under pressure globally. He says he’s “more than delighted” by President Toribiong’s announcement. “We’re very delighted, it’s been a long battle and a vision and a dream,” he said. “I didn’t really expect it, certainly not in the manner in which (President Toribiong) did it. He delivered his message to the world, not just to Palau but also to the world, to the United Nations, so it’s definitely exceeded my expectations.”

Mr Keane says lobbying by prominent American charity Pew Charitable Trusts also helped highlight the impact of foreign fishing on Palau waters, and its economy. “Our exclusive economic zone has basically been under attack by foreign fishing vessels,” he said. One patrol boat and technical assistance, provided by Australia, has helped Palau monitor its waters, however Mr Keane says “it’s just not possible” to enforce a protective policy.

“I think the first thing we have to do is make it clear that these waters are Palau’s, and they shall be protected, and now we’re working on other methods to come up with ways to enforce this shark sanctuary,” he said. Mr Keane says President Toribiong, in his address to the UN, highlighted the anomaly that while Palau is sitting on one of the world’s richest tuna stocks, it is struggling economically.

“I think that’s the message that has to be brought across is that these are Palau’s resources and it cannot be allowed to continue that others profit from them mainly illegally,” he said. “Getting the declaration was step one and now the new battle kind of begins to bring pressure to bear to make sure that our sovereign waters are respected.” “I don’t think it simply protects sharks just because we declared it a sanctuary but I think it serves notice to the world that we are going to be pro-active in protecting our resource.”

Fish4Divers fully supports this and all efforts to protect sharks and all other marine life.