Palau Napoleon & Bumphead Petition:
Please use this revised petition instead of my previous one re Palau's SB No. 8-56 (which sanctions the taking and selling of Napoleon Wrasse and Bumphead parrotfish). I've taken out some details better used in protest against Palau's SB 8-50):
Subject:
An Appeal for the Withdrawal of Bill No. 8-56
from:
[your name, country]
to:
- Johnson Toribiong, President of the Republic of Palau
and:
Members of the House of Delegates of the Eighth Olbiil Era Kelulau;
House Committee on Maritime and Fisheries; Delegate Tmewang Rengulbai, Chair
- HOD Speaker of the House
- HOD Clerk
Cc'd to:
- Palau Conservation Society
- Palau Chamber of Commerce
- Belau Tourism Association
- Palau Visitors Authority
- Pelau Shark Sanctuary
Dear President Toribiong, Chairman Rengulbai, and Members of the House of Delegates of the Eighth Olbiil Era Kelulau:
I'm writing in protest to the Palau legislation that was passed as Senate Bill No. 8-56. This bill proposes to remove Palau's present total ban in the taking and selling of adult Bumphead parrotfish and Napoleon wrasse with a three month open taking and selling season. This is an ecological and economical tragedy in the making.
Although Palau has set a new environmental benchmark with its creation as the world's first national Shark Sanctuary, its Senate has passed Bill No. 8-56 in its third and final reading. SB No. 8-56 is now before the House of Delegates in the House Committee on Maritime and Fisheries. The next session can begin with the House's second (and a possible final third) reading within this month. Although SB No. 8-44 (the bill to repeal the ban on shark fishing and finning) is now withdrawn, 8-56 remains as a contradiction to the pledge of stewardship that Palau pronounced before all the world with President Toribiong's UN announcement.
This has been distressing news for the 75% of all the tourists that travel to Palau to dive and snorkel. The iconic Napoleon wrasse and Bumphead parrotfish are premier attractions in Palau's waters, equal to, if not surpassing, the patrolling sharks in popularity. Napoleons and Bumpheads are seen as living treasures to divers, and they are as much a signature for Palau as are the sharks. Divers and snorkelers repeatedly experiencing these amazing species is a thousand-fold more profitable than their one-time sale as some dish to consume.
By permitting the sale of these extremely valuable fish, this bill would encourage the highly lucrative live fish export trade (priced as much as $2000 at destination). This is in direct opposition to the no-sale provision of this species in Senate Bill No. 7-64 of 2005. As the average annual Palauan income is approximately $7000, this bill invites a great incentive for unimpeded plunder, particularly during spawning aggregations that can occur during the open season.
Capturing, not killing, would be the chief method of "taking" these fish. This bill wrongly uses Palauan tradition as a justification to what will be an aid to the black market trade in live Napoleon wrasse and Bumphead parrotfish (infamously known as the "blue gold" trade). The "local sale" allowance in the bill facilitates this, where the outcome will result in intensive black market smuggling for these species to feed the insatiable demand for live fish in other nation's expensive restaurants.
Because of this "blue gold" trade, these species are greatly depleted globally and Palau's population is a fragile target. In 2006, Palau wisely declared a total ban on the taking of these species until a scientifically conducted non-detrimental finding could recommend any change from their fully protected status. Incredibly, this legal requirement has been completely ignored in the Senate's bill.
Another consideration in sancioning the taking of the remaining population of these fish is the typical method of easy capture using cyanide, which kills all the surrounding reef and other aquatic life where it is used. Even where cyanide isn't used, without these grazing fish, the reef is much more likely to being smothered by algae; particularly while stressed by a warming event like the El Nino in 1998. One third of your reefs were severely damaged, yet the "grazers" were able to help restore the corals before they perished forever. Napoleon wrasse are also of great benefit as one of only a few animals that prey upon the reef-destroying Crown of Thorns seastar, now present in several areas of Palau.
The negative economic repercussions from prospective visitors can't be overstated with this standing bill. Those who wanted to depend on Palau as a desirable dive oasis are now feeling betrayed with the Senate's passage of SB No. 8-56. Great promise was instilled with Palau's UN declaration as the world's first national Shark Sanctuary. I respectfully ask that you use your best judgment to continue Palau's momentum in its bold pursuit of respite and restoration. Please allow Senate Bill No. 8-56 to be stopped from causing further harm by withdrawing it in the House Committee on Maritime and Fisheries.
Sincerely, [your name, country]
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