Over the past few weeks I've been involved in an article for AFP on the 1st anniversary of Palau's Shark Sanctuary. During this time we gained permission to document the long-liners unloading their catch, (at least until we were escorted from the site). So many of these magnificent fish just from one boat.
So it was with great pleasure today that I was asked to document where one such long-liner has run aground on one of the outer reefs of Palau.
At least one less boat on the seas working........
Cheers
Richard
Hi Richard,
Thanks for sharing-I'd love to see more...
Adam
Are there any fines for running aground on reefs in Palau? I hope so.
Secretsea yes, that's why I was there documenting it all so that a case can be put together and fines given.
Cheers
Richard
Is that a China or Taiwanese boat?
Yes, heart-breaking to see the big tunas ending up dead in the docks (of Male & other Asian markets)...
Taiwanese mainly operate here, the captain of the boat we documented unloading got very jittery all of a sudden and ordered us to leave, even though we had permission. Makes you think what else he had in his hold that he didn't want us to see.......
Chopped up Manta Ray and Sharkfin if my time on Indonesian Longliners is anything to go by
During my visit to Palau earlier in the year I was shocked by how much money Taiwan had pumped into the country and they are certainly not doing it for the love of the people of Palau that's for sure!
All longliners have by-catch so they are definitely going to be catching sharks, though unless the system is utterly corrupt they can't land the sharks whole due to the sanctuary. So the question is do they have a system to get the fins onto the black market? I always get suspicious when any skipper tries to keep me away from his boat as it almost certainly means they are up to no good.
