Palau needs your help

Palau in 2004 succeeded in protection for turtles, rays and sharks and banned finning, now an amendment has been placed in OEK (Congress) that threatens to overturn this protection, and allow sharks to be fished for commercial reasons.

The full story is here http://sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/03...ction-laws.html

Many of us on Wetpixel have dove in Palau, the sharks are one of the biggest attractions, and tourism is a booming industry. Please write to one of the emails on the above attachment and support the shark conservation that has been in place for 5 years.

Many thanks

Karen

email to all sent. I hope it works. I hope to go there in 2011 and if they start shark finning, I will not.

The sharks are one of the main draws for scubadiving tourists. Their 2004 legislation set a great example, I'd hate to see them take a step backward. Hopefully emails will help.

I dive Palau mainly because of the sharks!

I just sent an email to all three of the links posted and stated that I will not be returning to Palau if BILL 8-44 passes in the OEK.

Heck, there are many, many other places to dive and I am not going to spend money in Palau if they are not going to support the main reason I dive there!

It will be a real disappointment if this is overturned. Although I had not been to Palau before my past trip in Dec/January, even that trip was a disappointment after years of hearing how abundant sharks were in Palau...yet our week they certainly were not abundant. I heard several stories while out there of Taiwanese fishing boats being seen with shark fins on the deck, yet no enforcing being done.

Its very sad to see this has even come up.

Shark finning in Palau has been a problem for years. Like you say there is no enforcment of the 12 mile exclusion zone and frozen cargos are not checked on the vessels that is even if they bother coming to port and declaring their catches!

Saying that there is still plenty of grey reefs and I have witnessed congregations of over 100 sharks several times this year at Blue corner. Then again I have also witnessed several of the local resident sharks with hooks and other assorted fishing tackle hanging from their mouths!!

The big pelagic sharks I'm afraid have become rarer and rarer although Silvertips and Oceanic Whitetips are still common sites but mostly on fishing trips.

It's a sad case where short term gains are pushed for a few beneficiaries at the expense of the majority and the long term.

What is really worrying is that this ridiculous bill is still being persued amid protests from all the Dive shops and tour operators here, international environmental agencies, academic institutions, concerned tourists and potential tourists alike.

Palau at the moment is almost completely reliant on the tourism industry, but it seems that the new government doesn't value it highly enough if it even considers this bill amendment for a second. The wording is basically such that the shark finning industry and mass exploitation of a natural resource would be allowed under a thin veil of local fisherman being able to keep any shark caught as bycatch. At present no shark is allowed to be landed even if it was caught accidentally. You can see how this is open to complete and probably intentional exploitation. Otherwise if not I have to wonder who is coming up with these great ideas!

I have seen efforts to get much needed research into shark movements vandalised and destroyed by competing dive shops with the arguement that it's a sham and only for promoting the dive shop conducting the research, which is almost as bad as the government jepardising the natural resources in the first place. We need to all be working together because if we don't they win and we all loose.

My two cents worth from someone working in Palau, relying on their being a scuba industry in 2 years.....

Richard you are right. Unfortunately there is a lot of animosity between certain dive operators in Palau that clearly is not benifical to the long term success and attraction of diving to Palau.

Unfortunately as we both have witnessed this animosity has been brewing for years and trying to change things is bridging on the impossible.....unless common ground can be found.

Perhaps this could well be that common ground?

I hope you're right

The second of these Palauan bills, No. 8-50, is also a travesty and is particularly worrisome as it is being sponsored by the brother of the only man who can veto these bills if not withdrawn beforehand - Palau's President. It specifically allows for 5 years of catch export tax exemption, contrary to Palau's existing Law. It also introduces General Santos City in the Philippines as the designated transshipment port.

This is another aspect to the outrage; without the tax incentive, it further removes any Palauan oversight regarding catch limits as well as any other form of regulation, particularly with shark fins and the taking of all other unauthorized or endangered species. The scheme would also include even more unsustainable tuna catch from the local firms getting their sashimi air transshipped out of Koror.

This still can be stopped, but it can't be put off. Please write your letter of condemnation and get others to do the same...the more personal the better. People are in place to make sure your statements are heard by the officials who can pull this legislation.

The bill repealing the ban on finning can become law on May 5th. Let Palau be a place where you can say you've reached your threshold of tolerance of the accelerating pillage.

And, no, I don't live in Palau or have a stake in any business concern there. I'm in NYC and I remember a Palau that once had an invisible tunnel filled with patrolling sharks; nearly touching fin to fin. I owe them the effort.

I have heard that a Chinese longliner ran aground on a reef near Airia last week. Apparently this was one of Ex Pres Nakamura's boats. I hear when the water surrounding the vessel was checked by divers they discovered the seabed was littered with shark fins and shark carcasses. Apparenlty the crew even dumped all the illegal wire traces and lines over board also.

Apparenlty none of this has been in the newspapers either...........I am so not surprised.

I have heard that a Chinese longliner ran aground on a reef near Airia last week. Apparently this was one of Ex Pres Nakamura's boats. I hear when the water surrounding the vessel was checked by divers they discovered the seabed was littered with shark fins and shark carcasses. Apparenlty the crew even dumped all the illegal wire traces and lines over board also.

 

Apparenlty none of this has been in the newspapers either...........I am so not surprised.

This report on the Kuniyoshi Fishing Company's poaching activity is now described in depth at: Shark Fishing Continues! Thumbing Their Noses at Palau!

Kuniwo Nakamura, Kuniyoshi's president and former Palau President (1993-2001), also spearheaded several negotiations between Palauan and Filipino firms to enter into commercial fishing agreements. Their group then pushed for the political support for the two pending bills that essentially repeal Palau's ban on shark finning and exempts these firms from paying Palau any export tax on their catch.

I have heard this morning that the vessel will be impounded and the firm will be fined.

I'm sure that will make them amend their ways....yeah right!

Contracts should be terminated but we know thats not going to happen.

http://mvarietynews.com/index.php?option=c...ws&Itemid=5

Fishing vessel ran aground, boat captain charged for shark fishing

Wednesday, 29 April 2009 14:19 By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa - Horizon News Staff

KOROR (Palau Horizon) – The boat captain of a fishing vessel that ran aground a week ago is now facing charges after authorities found steel fishing leaders and shark fins on the boat during an inspection.

Fang Chi Rong was charged on Thursday with possession of steal leaders, fishing for shark, mutilation of shark, possession of shark, fishing for turtle and possession of turtle.

Rong appeared for a bail hearing on April 24 and posted a $5,000 surety bond.

Rong was represented by Siegfried Nakamura while Assistant Attorney General Ronald Ledgerwood appeared on behalf of the government.

Rong was released from the custody on Friday.

The affidavit of probable cause submitted to court stated that Rong is the captain of a Taiwanese fishing vessel called Shen Jyi Huei # 16.

The vessel was registered under Kunioshy Fishing Company.

The vessel ran aground on April 17 while fishing at the Airai reef.

Marine Law Enforcement officer Syringa Gulibert investigated the incident and stated that he and other officers Allen Maldengesang and Victor Remengesau went out to inspect the vessel and during inspection the officers observed shark fins in the water surrounding the vessel.

The document stated that the officers recovered steel fishing leaders from the vessel and partial remains of a sea turtle.

The affidavit stated that KFC officials were observed to be bringing a tugboat out to attempt to remove the vessel from the reef.

This siege is still unraveling:

Further findings on Kuniwo Nakamura, the former Palau President (1993-2001)-

I previously identified him as spearheading the effort with several Filipino and Palauan firms to press for the bills to repeal the shark finning ban and to eliminate the tax on fish catches for 5 years. I also identified him as the president of the Palauan fishing firm that was charged with illegal shark finning in Palau's waters (with yet another arrest just 2 weeks ago).

I've made two discoveries in the past few days: Mr. Nakamura is the owner of the Belau Terminal & Transfer Co., the firm that oversees all vessel activity in Palau's national port at Malakal Harbor. In addition, Nakamura is also president of the Belau Airport Security Company, the firm that conducts all airport security at Palau's airport. Kuniwo Nakamura essentially has control of all air and sea transshipment activity in the Republic of Palau.

Unbelievably, there's yet another component to Palau's about-face assault on the oceans:

Palau's Senate (OEK) has just introduced (on April 20th) yet another corrupt bill, SB No. 8-56, that repeals their complete ban on taking and exporting adult parrotfish and wrasse:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT- To establish a three-month fishing season for adult parrotfish (kemedukl) and adult wrasse (maml), and for other related purposes.

Section1. Legislative findings. The Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that the absolute, year-round protection of two species of fish – the adult parrotfish and the adult wrasse – creates a conflict between the needs of environmental conservation and the observance of Palauan custom. The taking and consumption of kemedukl and the maml are both deeply connected to Palauan tradition, but the current law effectively outlaws this part of Palauan tradition. To resolve this conflict, but also to continue to provide for the protection of these highly important species of fish, the Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that there should be a three-month season, from November 1 to January 31, during which these two species of fish may be legally taken from Palau’s waters. Creating this season will allow Palauans to once again legally partake in cultural traditions and to enjoy these species of fish during the holiday season. Furthermore, this legislation will also allow for the local sale of parrotfish in Palau during the November 1 to January 31 season, which will allow local fishermen to receive additional income during the holiday season."

Note the "Palauan custom" tactic that's being used to justify this lucrative Wrasse-Humphead bill. These fish are extremely threatened globally and Palau’s population of Humphead Parrotfish and Napoleon Wrasse is particularly small and fragile. There's no environmental assessment to allow this. Imagine how many of these US$1500+ fish, "customarily" caught with cyanide, will be "traditionally" rocketed at 600 mph to Singapore, Tokyo, or Hong Kong. And how convenient with a sharkfinner's security firm overseeing all air transship.

These legislative atrocities clearly need concerted international condemnation. May 5, 2009 was previously described as the deadline for the Palauan pro-finning bill (SB No. 8-44) to go before the President, however, the Palauan Constitution states that no bill may become a law unless it has been adopted by a majority on 3 separate readings. Since no bills have gone into their second readings so far, the legislation's timeline can be extended. An educated guess from a Palauan attorney gives another 3 to 4 weeks for the next two readings.

Please continue in all your Palau petition efforts.

Yes not surprising once again. But once more these two types of fish are being poached anyhow. I have seen Napoleon wrasse on both Blue Corner and in German channel with spear gun injuries. I have personally found a spear gun on the wall at 30 mtrs on blue corner where spear fishing is not permitted.

Anyone who has dived there recognizes the individual personalities of the resident Napoleons...these fish are smart they recognize individual divers even ones that DON'T feed them.

Yes its unfortunate that someone being so blatantly corrupt thinks that no one can touch him.....he's probably correct.

Yes not surprising once again. But once more these two types of fish are being poached anyhow. I have seen Napoleon wrasse on both Blue Corner and in German channel with spear gun injuries. I have personally found a spear gun on the wall at 30 mtrs on blue corner where spear fishing is not permitted.

Anyone who has dived there recognizes the individual personalities of the resident Napoleons...these fish are smart they recognize individual divers even ones that DON'T feed them.

 

Yes its unfortunate that someone being so blatantly corrupt thinks that no one can touch him.....he's probably correct.

Although Humphead parrotfish and Napoleon wrasse are illegally speared by Palauans for local consumption (particularly at night when they sleep in shallow water), the proposed bill also permits the sale of these fish. This would cause the intensive taking of these fish for the lucrative live trade. Harvesting, not spearing, wouldn't take place in dived areas like Blue Corner; it will be in the lagoons of the more remote areas of Palau.

Keep in mind that an individual with an established record of shark finning is also the owner of the security firm overseeing all of Palau's air transshipment. Aside from vacuuming out the population of these fish, the typical method of cyanide capture will destroy the surrounding reef where it's deployed.

Michael Aw has a great essay on this nightmarish trade in the Napoleon wrasse: "The Napoleon Wrasse Crisis"