tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25198030729862352802024-02-18T20:03:35.046-08:00SHARK TALKPalau Shark Sanctuary was founded in 2001, with a goal to establish Palau's waters as a shark sanctuary.
That goal was achieved when Palau declared itself as the world's first Shark Sanctuary before the United Nations General Assembly Meeting in New York City, on September 25, 2009.
Palau Shark Sanctuary remains dedicated to the protection of sharks in Palau!
WWW.SHARKSANCTUARY.COM
Member: WWW.SHARKALLIANCE.COMShark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-79706427876263022572013-04-16T09:56:00.000-07:002013-04-16T09:56:00.012-07:00Palau Proposes a Ban on Commercial FishingIn January 2013, former President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. (2001-2008) once again took office as President of the Republic of Palau, and true to form immediately set Palau on a leadership path in protection of the marine environment by proposing a ban on commercial fishing in Palau's EEZ.<br />
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During his previous two consecutive terms from 2001 to 2008, President Remengesau led Palau to international acclaim with a staunch multi-pronged program of terrestrial and marine environment protection that included passage of ground-breaking shark protection legislation in 2003 that ultimately led to Palau becoming the world's first shark sanctuary in 2009. He also launched the Micronesia Challenge a regional environmental trust and helped create Palau's Protected Areas Network intended to preserve Palau's environment for generations to come.<br />
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In 2002 in protest against the destructive and wasteful practice of shark-finning in Palau's waters, President Remengesau set fire to a catch of shark fins found on board a foreign fishing vessel arrested for illegal fishing in Palau's waters. The Presidents actions ignited a local and international outcry against the killing of sharks that led to the 2003 passage of landmark legislation protecting sharks in Palau's waters and culminated in the 2009 declaration by Palau as the worlds first shark sanctuary.<br />
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In 2004 President Remengesau was recognized by Sharkproject as their very first Shark Guardian of the Year, with an award presented to Palau during BOOT SHOW 2004.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGO09MD5Z6qKm4w0C_Npa9nifpzs0-iPWq9VZynDIX4GKx4wYro9QVGeoRixVl3jo5rpV-UsTNTZb6rgqP_CPu8ANn6VQnMc4BK8vDFpQqeBkP6n-nBbMkIxOLfYNykv0hlVKGOMfuB37/s1600/11.02.04+President+Shark+award+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGO09MD5Z6qKm4w0C_Npa9nifpzs0-iPWq9VZynDIX4GKx4wYro9QVGeoRixVl3jo5rpV-UsTNTZb6rgqP_CPu8ANn6VQnMc4BK8vDFpQqeBkP6n-nBbMkIxOLfYNykv0hlVKGOMfuB37/s200/11.02.04+President+Shark+award+(10).JPG" width="157" /></a></div>
The Presidents declaration to seek a ban on commercial fishing in Palau's EEZ was announced on March 12, 2013, in a speech made to the Prince of Monaco during an official visit to Palau. Despite the Presidents best intentions it will take an Act of Congress to pass the legislation necessary to give life to his vision and he will need all the support he can get. Ending commercial fishing in Palau's waters is an important step in the protection of our dwindling pelagic shark populations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UgTtRTNmgpohyTLGA8z_IRbfarD6_e8GrN1yXiUCYl0QEabsEBy8NWEkToGKuLV1gNy-SnEYRjbxYEVKR_6ByG5OsxEVAzzkUegQ0D_bFBG7keAUTBzLyCIf6r_Qb0GU4uqPzTZuLwrt/s1600/sharkfin+fishing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UgTtRTNmgpohyTLGA8z_IRbfarD6_e8GrN1yXiUCYl0QEabsEBy8NWEkToGKuLV1gNy-SnEYRjbxYEVKR_6ByG5OsxEVAzzkUegQ0D_bFBG7keAUTBzLyCIf6r_Qb0GU4uqPzTZuLwrt/s200/sharkfin+fishing.JPG" width="200" /></a>I call on those of you who care for the health of the oceans and for the protection of sharks to therefore show support to President Remengesau and to Legislators in Palau for a ban on commercial fishing in Palau's EEZ.<br />
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Please pass the word and copy me on any posts, links, and or send comments to me at: info@sharksanctuary.com<br />
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I'll get them delivered to President Remengesau and the Legislators.Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-1285217898773896542011-04-01T00:30:00.000-07:002011-04-02T00:43:16.417-07:00An Historic Agreement between Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and The Republic of Palau<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms81uoPxZxKfU-rHUyHvOR21xZKZxs8Hm4hJWKNNthsdgKV9YUTBr4hVWtCBMIRdWN7KNZJQ70b0iY3IQv_GL95JMvc0i9HxhNIXLVY7SqJ_oCscOAzfKQR6YhSWmSRJO2zhj2mfqtDYV/s1600/home_focus_110317_Palau_480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjms81uoPxZxKfU-rHUyHvOR21xZKZxs8Hm4hJWKNNthsdgKV9YUTBr4hVWtCBMIRdWN7KNZJQ70b0iY3IQv_GL95JMvc0i9HxhNIXLVY7SqJ_oCscOAzfKQR6YhSWmSRJO2zhj2mfqtDYV/s320/home_focus_110317_Palau_480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Images copyright Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, after what has been a rather lengthy drum-roll (as pointed out by a good friend)….. I am very pleased to announce the signing of an historic agreement between <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/">Sea Shepherd Conservation Society</a> and The Republic of <a href="http://www.palaugov.net/">Palau</a>, that will significantly improve and expand Palau’s capabilities to patrol and protect its’ shark sanctuary from illegal fishing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am also very pleased and humbled that <a href="http://www.sharksanctuary.com/">Palau Shark Sanctuary</a>, the one-man shark conservation organization I founded in 2001 on a mission to convince Palau to declare its’ EEZ a shark sanctuary, was able to play a significant role in brokering this historic agreement between Sea Shepherd and Palau, in yet another huge step closer to giving true meaning and real life to Palau’s sanctuary.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I heartily congratulate and deeply commend President Toribiong of Palau and Captain Paul Watson and CEO Steve Roest of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on this exciting occasion for marine conservation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also express my sincere appreciation to Palau’s Council of Chiefs, Ministers, Attorney’s General and other officials who helped guide, assist and craft this landmark agreement. Likewise, many thanks are due to Ms. Kim Mc Coy, Director of Legal Affairs at Sea Shepherd for her prompt and productive efforts in helping finalize the agreement. Congratulations and thanks to all! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Video Link: </span><br />
<a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/video.html"><span style="font-size: small;">Interview with President Toribiong, Sea Shepherd and </span><span style="font-size: small;">Palau Shark Sanctuary. Courtesy OTV Palau.</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Immediately below: Press Releases and other links.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For immediate release</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Sea Shepherd Conservation Society supports Palau in protection of marine sanctuary and law enforcement</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sea Shepherd to send one of its vessels to patrol the territorial waters of Palau</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Koror, Palau, March 31, 2001 - The support of a high-tech vessel will have a significant impact on the marine law enforcement against illegal fishing practices after Palau declared its waters a marine sanctuary.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> On March 11, 2011, H.E. President Toribiong, President of the Republic of Palau, Paul Watson, President and Founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Steve Roest, Chief Executive Officer of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society signed a Memorandum of Agreement through which Sea Shepherd, a global marine conservation organization, will undertake an initial patrol campaign in the territorial waters of Palau and will provide advice in assessing options and best procedures for ongoing marine conservation operations. In addition, Sea Shepherd will fully fund the operations of its vessel M/Y Bob Barker, a former Norwegian whaler, and assets and will provide support and training to local authorities where needed or appropriate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The well equipped conservation society taps into high-tech resources such as helicopter surveillance, drone (UAV) technology, fast interceptor boats, and radar tracking systems, putting the marine enforcement entity of Palau at par with the illegal fishing operations it is trying to fight since the implementation of the world’s first shark sanctuary in September 2009, followed by the extension to a complete marine sanctuary in November 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dermot Keane, Founder of non-profit organization Palau Shark Sanctuary, who established the contact between Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Presidential Office of Palau, and signed the Memorandum of Agreement as a witness, comments: “This is a major milestone for Palau’s conservation efforts and clearly sends the right message to the world: our nation is serious about the enforcement of our marine protection laws, and with the help of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, even small nations can make a big difference.”</span></div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-45003410761368748402011-03-27T19:14:00.000-07:002011-03-27T19:14:20.898-07:00Patrolling and Protecting Palau Shark SanctuaryAs per my last blog, a deal is indeed in the works that will bring considerable international support and long awaited assets to Palau to support Palau's Division of Marine Law Enforcement in patrolling and protecting the world's first shark sanctuary. In fact the shark sanctuary declaration was later expanded by President Toribiong to include all marine mammals in Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone which is an area approximately the size of France and a daunting challenge for Palau's Law Enforcement. <br />
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While the paperwork has taken a little longer than expected, the additional time being spent to finalize the agreement between Palau and the international conservation agency has been well-spent and the results are a stronger and more precise agreement with better defined roles that will improve effectiveness for all.<br />
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If all goes well I'm hopeful that this week will be the Week of The Shark in Palau as our Shark Sanctuary finally gets some real teeth! Hang in there!Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-83437377015284844142011-03-18T02:54:00.000-07:002011-03-18T02:54:39.042-07:00Almost There! Don't Despair!Regarding patrol and enforcement assistance for Palau Shark Sanctuary...well, true to the old adage, the job isn't done until the paperwork is finished! As such, there are a few more "i's" to be dotted and "t's" to be crossed in the Memorandum of Agreement between Palau and the "International Conservation Organization" that has committed considerable resources to Palau, before official wraps can be taken off the program and formal announcements made.<br />
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I've been assured by President Toribiongs office that final details will be taken care of this coming Monday, clearing the way formal announcements.<br />
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It's an exciting time for Palau as the need for assistance to enforce the sanctuary and Palau's fisheries regulations is highlighted by very recent events that took place concurrent with discussions regarding enforcement assistance.<br />
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Within the last two weeks illegal foreign fishing vessels have been targeting Palau's southwest islands and laying waste to Palau's reefs and fish stocks including many turtles while ill-equipped local rangers remained powerless to stop the raiders who are far better equipped. It's a classic David and Goliath battle. Rich "First World" nations raiding and robbing emerging Island Nations simply because they can! Illegal, immoral, and to date unstoppable. I am hopeful that the tides may finally be changing. They need to.<br />
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Please be patient and remain tuned for full details.<br />
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Palau Shark SanctuaryShark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-58960463881362801622011-03-14T01:53:00.000-07:002011-03-14T01:53:23.829-07:00At Long Last! Help Is On The Way!<span style="font-size: small;">I'm way overdue for making a post but have not been idle in the meantime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the biggest criticisms of Palau's shark sanctuary was Palau's inability to effectively patrol it. With only one patrol boat operated by Palau Marine Law Enforcement and an EEZ and sanctuary almost as big as France, much more help in enforcement is needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'm pleased to report that later this week, (March 14 - 18) an announcement is forthcoming about help being on it's way to Palau! In an agreement brokered by Palau Shark Sanctuary, a commitment has been secured from a major marine conservation organization to fund a patrol boat, hi-speed chase boats, helicopter and or drones (UAV) to help patrol Palau's shark sanctuary against poachers and illegal fishing activities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Please stay tuned for more information and announcements later this week.</span>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-71162521408393260152010-04-16T21:23:00.000-07:002010-04-23T22:10:16.142-07:00SHARK SAVERS "THANK YOU" TO PRESIDENT TORIBIONG<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Field Report from Palau Capitol Building, Ngerulmud, Melekeok, Palau, Micronesia, April 16, 2010.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>You may recall that <a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/">Shark Savers</a> fielded two petitions regarding Palau. The first one opposed a bad proposed shark fishing law and the second one thanked Palau for subsequently protecting sharks by creating the national Palau Shark Sanctuary. Shark Savers subsequently created a book consisting of all the signatures and comments collected for presentation to President Toribiong. The book was presented to President Johnson Toribiong of Palau on behalf of SHARK SAVERS by <a href="http://www.sharksanctuary.com/">Palau Shark Sanctuary</a>. Here's the report I filed with Mr. Michael Skoletsky, Executive Director of Shark Savers:<br />
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Dear Michael:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLmfkWft04m0ieZL2v3jscUGOkG-yoBYueUWAOdgLDwbRcFNFk79Ou5AcQdTeAtL4kCJEftMF8wgJcKL76LsNIMKgpkYvyL-pir5yFYczrgeoxYFB_R6vcsJz_cPq6x-O__4DB1Yc3q8a/s1600/Thank_you_Palau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLmfkWft04m0ieZL2v3jscUGOkG-yoBYueUWAOdgLDwbRcFNFk79Ou5AcQdTeAtL4kCJEftMF8wgJcKL76LsNIMKgpkYvyL-pir5yFYczrgeoxYFB_R6vcsJz_cPq6x-O__4DB1Yc3q8a/s200/Thank_you_Palau.jpg" width="151" /></a>I met with the President re: Shark Savers' Thank You. Others present were Mr. Ngirai Tmetuchel, Special Advisor to the President and Ms. Bernadette Carreon, Reporter, Palau Horizon (she’ll do a story in local paper which will be syndicated on line) and a few of the Presidents staff.<br />
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I gave a brief history / reminder of how Shark Savers answered the call by my organization Palau Shark Sanctuary to rally international support to prevent the undoing of Palau’s landmark shark protection legislation as proposed in <a href="http://sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/03/repeal-of-palaus-shark-protection-laws.html">Senate Bill 8-44</a>. Shark Savers created an on line petition calling on Palau to block SB 8-44 which resulted in conservation minded people around the world rising to the call. Those messages and petition were already provided to Palau’s President and copied to the Senate, Belau Tourism Association, Chamber of Commerce and others.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue;">Image Above Left: Copyright Shark Savers; Design Jamie Pollack.</span></span></b><br />
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Following the <a href="http://sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/09/president-toribiongs-speech-to-un.html">President’s historic announcement at the U.N</a>., Shark Savers again rose to the call and gathered over 1500 signatures on a Thank You note to the President for his ground breaking shark sanctuary announcement and wise leadership in conservation. <br />
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I informed the President that I was present on behalf of <a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/">Shark Savers and Executive Director Michael Skoletsky</a> to hand over the printed and bound “thank you” signatures to him and to extend the deepest gratitude of Shark Savers and the thousands of people around the world who signed the petition and the thank you, for the Presidents Shark Sanctuary announcement at the United Nations General Assembly Meeting in New York, late last year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK9WllRd_InGkIIiDZKw_3BoZDVmA5MObOLAqVJIwZmst1It9Hj6LbwcJvS17CVORsCGKkotN-t3KQaq3MOHWZxie58dlMnVckjPggAG5-lVVdiihRblmoi0kxj7Z98po8Qsxo5er1uk9/s1600/Dermot-Toribiong2-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK9WllRd_InGkIIiDZKw_3BoZDVmA5MObOLAqVJIwZmst1It9Hj6LbwcJvS17CVORsCGKkotN-t3KQaq3MOHWZxie58dlMnVckjPggAG5-lVVdiihRblmoi0kxj7Z98po8Qsxo5er1uk9/s200/Dermot-Toribiong2-lg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I read your letter to the President after which I presented him the award on yours and Shark Savers behalf.<br />
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The President was deeply moved. He smiled when I mentioned the on line petition as there is no doubt he “heard the noise” at the time.<br />
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He extended his thanks to Sharks Savers and those who signed the petition and thank you note for their positive and constructive contribution to the protection of sharks. He sends his best wishes to you and all Shark Savers and vowed to continue his efforts to fulfill his vision for Palau Shark Sanctuary.<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
Dermot<br />
<div style="color: blue; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: blue;">IMAGES ABOVE LEFT and BELOW RIGHT: Copyright Palau Horizon; Courtesy Palau Shark Sanctuary </b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ikxUXni2Ov37mEdBQO7-Kep9Oc4CkVpbpIfXh0S6MnGdtCse0ufUzXf0g7j1dLDDaMlihouJv4diFTk7boCO3AMiQFY-NXRbq1t966b4QUBVgSOT1Nn609bu-phiutAnRKNQdEJCkmAu/s1600/dermot-keane-and-president-of-palau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ikxUXni2Ov37mEdBQO7-Kep9Oc4CkVpbpIfXh0S6MnGdtCse0ufUzXf0g7j1dLDDaMlihouJv4diFTk7boCO3AMiQFY-NXRbq1t966b4QUBVgSOT1Nn609bu-phiutAnRKNQdEJCkmAu/s200/dermot-keane-and-president-of-palau.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Below is the text of the letter from Shark Savers that accompanyied the book:<br />
<br />
Dear President Toribiong,<br />
<br />
It is with great pleasure that we present to you this book containing the signatures and messages from the many people throughout the world who are grateful for your actions to protect the sharks of Palau.<br />
<br />
As you read through the comments in the book, you will notice how greatly moved we all are that you have taken this important and bold action. Palau has become much more than a place in our diving logs, but a place in our hearts, as well.<br />
<br />
Sharks are important to us, to Palau, and to the world. After Palau took its pioneering step, the Maldives has joined you in declaring its waters a shark sanctuary. Honduras has placed a moratorium on shark fishing as it considers doing the same. We hope that you have started a trend among the nations that harbor the remaining sharks.<br />
<br />
We also thank Palau for taking the lead at CITES to protect shark species from international trade. While we are all disappointed at the lack of progress at CITES this year, we thank you for leading the fight.<br />
<br />
DermotShark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-27271464041823689672010-03-12T00:13:00.000-08:002010-04-24T00:38:51.869-07:00An Interview with SVARnet TV - Liesbeth Liekens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSWS5VMuNSbPoUPa89m7kIOKF0vBZCjc2Y8wkgTaLWiElrXewfqjLLuUGTqipVfrYL-ZIf4ivjpTWdt1yKr8VFtU8NnxcMio9IlrNY1Pb4kTKVTHUNlG40wS11XNjttafuzZRtyK-YUpr/s1600/BOOTInt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSWS5VMuNSbPoUPa89m7kIOKF0vBZCjc2Y8wkgTaLWiElrXewfqjLLuUGTqipVfrYL-ZIf4ivjpTWdt1yKr8VFtU8NnxcMio9IlrNY1Pb4kTKVTHUNlG40wS11XNjttafuzZRtyK-YUpr/s320/BOOTInt.jpg" /></a></div>During a recent business trip to Germany to attend BOOT show in Dusseldoerf, I was interviewd by Ms. Liesbeth Liekens of Submerge Productions and SVARnet TV. Liesbeth recommended viewing using the Silverlight video player but its also available in Flash, but that will be discontinued soon.<br />
<br />
SVARnet offers a series of video channels all dedicated to diving and the underwater world from several videographers around the globe. Visit SVARnet TV to view these high quality video podcasts from videographers that include: Evan Kovacs, Andreas Schumacher, Bruno Vanherck, Liquid Productions, Klemens Gann, Fergus Kennedy, Philippe Madeira, and Rob Stewart. <b><span style="font-size: x-small;">IMAGE COPYRIGHT SVARnet.TV</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://demo.svarnet.com/prophp/index.php?mode=episodeview&channelid=14&episodeid=68">Click here for the interview</a>. TITLE: Dermot Keane and the Shark Sanctuary in Palau.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://demo.svarnet.com/prophp/">Click here for information</a>. Popular Episodes and New Episodes.<br />
<br />
DermotShark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-39712133754649898912010-03-06T04:22:00.000-08:002010-03-06T04:27:49.356-08:00Getting Back On The Air!Apologies for the long absence since my last post following the ground breaking announcement by President Toribiong at the U.N. on September 25, 2009!<br />
<br />
The frenzy of activities and media attention following the President’s historic announcement coupled with business obligations that included a lot of international travel and the fact that my organization Palau Shark Sanctuary consists of just me on the ground in Palau, simply overwhelmed me!(yes I have lots of support from individuals and organizations around the world...but in the end, it's just me!).<br />
<br />
My schedule has slowed down temporarily giving me long overdue time to update my supporters, blogs, website and other sources on what has happened since President Toribiong’s historic announcement. Rest assured, despite the absence of blog postings etc., much work has gone on to bring the President’s announcement to life!<br />
My website is due for overhaul too as soon as time and money permits.<br />
<br />
In the days ahead I will provide more detailed updates on actions and activities in Palau and at Palau Shark Sanctuary and in the meantime please be assured that every effort is being made to ensure the full realization and long term success of President Toribiong's vision for Palau’s National Shark Sanctuary.<br />
<br />
Posts Coming Soon (not necessarily in this order):<br />
<br />
<b>SHARKS SAVERS</b>: Thank You Booklet is in Palau and ready for presentation to President Toribiong. Just waiting to finalize a date for the presentation. Standby!<br />
<br />
<b>ENFORCEMENT UPDATE</b>: Updates on actions and activities to detect sanctuary violations and enforce the law. The first prosecution of illegal shark poaching under the new sanctuary declaration has just finished with sentencing about to be announced. Government prosecutors are seeking maximum penalties of over $1 Million plus jail time as an example and deterrent. <br />
<br />
<b>TUNA CONFERENCE</b>: Updates on recently held symposium in Palau to better manage Palau’s high seas fisheries where a lot of “shark interactions” occur. Interaction sounds oh so innocent! Full report coming.<br />
CITES CONVENTION: Palau is reviewing its’ position on CITES reservations with many positive changes forecasted. Palau is supporting US and EU proposals at upcoming CITES convention in Qatar to enhance protection for four additional sharks species.<br />
<br />
<b>DISCOVERY CHANNEL SHARK WEEK</b>: A little story about DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS bully tactics against those who are genuinely trying to educate the public about sharks (that would be me) as opposed to their despicable money driven fear-mongering about sharks. They are not nice people!<br />
<br />
Stay tuned!Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-70828551747596560862010-02-17T22:50:00.000-08:002010-04-23T23:32:17.575-07:00Palau's Shark Alarm! A story by DATELINE reporter David O' Shea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBeGvNyQkoTjNMyCThPbwC7oy2y0tV2PMR1ykgSXxRxnOxjTLIE1QU6pR3DtnmP65GwUQxIdV_HgqOf5uyB6JhxEAvXcZgj9U1K5UpuW85_rmgGghD42U1t_n4MnQ6CWF49s7r8ZJKfIe/s1600/David+O%27+Shea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBeGvNyQkoTjNMyCThPbwC7oy2y0tV2PMR1ykgSXxRxnOxjTLIE1QU6pR3DtnmP65GwUQxIdV_HgqOf5uyB6JhxEAvXcZgj9U1K5UpuW85_rmgGghD42U1t_n4MnQ6CWF49s7r8ZJKfIe/s320/David+O%27+Shea.jpg" /></a></div>PALAU'S SHARK ALARM! By <a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/reporter/about/id/13/n/David-O-Shea">David O' Shea</a>.<br />
<br />
I recently joined video journalist David O' Shea, who had just completed his <a href="http://samstours.com/scuba-training.html">PADI Open Water Diver Certification</a> with Instructor Jim Wilke of <a href="http://samstours.com/">Sam's Tours</a> Palau, as he plunges underwater for his very first scuba dive and into the controversy over saving the ocean's top predator. Coincidentally, it was also my very first dive in the newly created Palau Shark Sanctuary following <a href="http://sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/09/president-toribiongs-speech-to-un.html">President Toribiong's historic announcement</a> at the United Nations in September 2009.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwJt1XtIG7Kuzpz4Kve1Z2XsGBB6on5L8yrte9HIcPotSnI_71lxyEhjDCYes0mddzoU8xS1E64POuLIELYLN3CbxmGZQ15Ahs8D9ETyFQuDydsSsq1dk7WUBLG6FAx3W9K2UFQVuLpND/s1600/palau-no-to-sharkfins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwJt1XtIG7Kuzpz4Kve1Z2XsGBB6on5L8yrte9HIcPotSnI_71lxyEhjDCYes0mddzoU8xS1E64POuLIELYLN3CbxmGZQ15Ahs8D9ETyFQuDydsSsq1dk7WUBLG6FAx3W9K2UFQVuLpND/s200/palau-no-to-sharkfins.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The teaser for David's story reads: The tiny Pacific nation of <a href="http://samstours.com/palau.html">Palau</a> has delcared itself the world's first national shark sanctuary. It's in response to the massive plunder of sharks that occurs in its vast territorial waters, part of an estimated 100 million sharks killed each year. This carnage is being fueled by Asia's rapidly growing appetite for shark fin soup. The sharks are captured, have their fins hacked off and are then thrown overboard to die.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image copyright <a href="http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html">Gunther Deichmann </a></span></b></div><br />
Tiny Palau has warned the world it will protect its natural resources, but with only one patrol boat, can the shark sanctuary ever be enforced? Watch our report and take a look at our photo gallery of behind the scenes photos and underwater pictures from David's story.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/about/theshow">DATELINE</a> is Australia's longest-running international current affairs program presented by George Negus and a team of acclaimed producers and video journalists.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/story/transcript/id/600317/n/Palau-s-Shark-Alarm">Click Here for David O' Shea's report</a>.<br />
<br />
DermotShark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-25982846928984184932009-09-29T20:10:00.000-07:002009-09-29T20:10:43.525-07:00Please Sign Shark Savers THANK YOU to President Toribiong!<div style="text-align: center;">An on-line THANK YOU note to Palau President Johnson is open for signatures on Shark Savers web site. <br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I urge everyone who cares for the marine environment</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">to show support for </span><span style="font-size: large;">Palau's declaration of a </span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">National Shark Sanctuary.</span><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/608-thank-you-palau.html">CLICK HERE TO THANK</a></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">PRESIDENT TORIBIONG!</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-43012460521206104172009-09-29T02:08:00.000-07:002009-09-29T16:26:19.283-07:00The Power of One!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am a strong believer in the power of positive thinking. Likewise, I believe that one person CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. As I come to grips with the reality and magnitude of what one amazing person, President Johnson Toribiong of Palau, just did by declaring Palau a Shark Sanctuary, I reflect on being just “one” person back in 1995 when I set about my efforts to save sharks.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">But just as true as it is that one person can indeed make a difference, it is equally true that achievement of <country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></country-region><place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></place>Palau</place><//place></country-region><//country-region>’s declaration as a Shark Sanctuary is not just the work of one person. On the contrary this ground-breaking achievement reflects collective efforts over time of a great many “ones” who believed that they too could make a difference and were willing to help.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">No one person can lay claim to credit for <country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></country-region><place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></place>Palau</place><//place></country-region><//country-region>’s historic announcement at the U.N., including myself, and I simply don’t. This achievement is testament to a powerful collective effort by lots of “ones” who simply did what they could. There are many such “ones”, some visible and some invisible, but all of whom deserve credit for this tremendous decision<br />
<div _moz-userdefined="">. <br />
</div>Just as with a digital image consisting of many pixels, no one pixel tells the whole story, but combined the pixels bring the image to life.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">No pun intended, but all I did was my bit!<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The rest is the work of others. To each and every “one” who pitched in and helped make this happen I am sincerely grateful and thankful for your contributions. Every “one” of you made a difference!<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">One such person is <a href="http://www.dorsonstudios.com/">Edward Dorson</a>, Professional Photographer and Advocate for the Ocean Environment. Edward has worked tirelessly and endlessly in rallying broad support for the protection of sharks and the marine environment in <country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></country-region><place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></place>Palau</place><//place></country-region><//country-region>. While Edward’s hard work may often seem invisible, the results of his efforts are not! Thanks Edward!<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Another “one” is my long time friend and professional photographer <a href="http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html">Gunther Deichmann</a>, who was an environmental activist before I knew what that even meant! His work and his friendship have inspired me over the years. He’s also been most generous in providing images, securing media coverage, and in building and hosting the Shark Sanctuary website at his expense. Gunther is a founding father of Palau Shark Sanctuary. Thanks GD! <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Speaking of father figures!…..I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the encouragement and support of my good friend and “father” Dennis Camblin who schooled me and scolded me as necessary and helped me get Palau Shark Sanctuary off the ground. It would not have happened without him. Thanks Dennis!<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And then there was “one”. Lots of “ones” in fact…and that’s Michael Skoletsky and <a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/">Shark Savers</a>. Michael responded to the call for help early this year when <country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></country-region><place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></place>Palau</place><//place></country-region><//country-region>’s shark protection laws were under threat by launching an on-line petition on his Shark Savers website. The Shark Savers petition resulted in more than 4,500 “ones” who signed and or sent letters from around the world urging <country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></country-region><place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"></place>Palau</place><//place></country-region><//country-region>’s leadership to stand firm on their strong shark protection laws. The power of “one” multiplied. Thanks Michael!<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">No doubt there are other “ones”. But I’m pressed for time right now and want to post this before I sign off so I must stop here. Apologies in advance to those not yet mentioned. You’re next.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Thanks!<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-67343779266803675902009-09-28T05:48:00.000-07:002009-09-28T05:57:29.264-07:00A Hero’s Welcome for Palau President Johnson Toribiong.<strong>For Immediate Release:</strong><br />
<br />
KOROR, PALAU, 9/28/2009, 7:45 p.m.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">A Hero’s Welcome for Palau President Johnson Toribiong.</span></strong><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Palau President H.E. Johnson Toribiong arrived home moments ago to a hero’s welcome at Koror International Airport, Palau, organized by <a href="http://www.sharksanctuary.com/">Palau Shark Sanctuary</a>. Dermot Keane, founder of Palau Shark Sanctuary and Managing Director of Palau dive shop <a href="http://www.samstours.com/">Sam’s Tours</a>, was on hand to greet the President and thanked him for declaring Palau a Shark Sanctuary. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGxp5TMICLRdOrNxoUHHJza7AStNOUuiqMigUlETPl4_HQd8vsoPWpUFYRBEpLDOkBPEDO9QNc46xf5I8rP9qsZbECT05nbudXbbn4MOdD5hjCdRbYY4hucua0b3CD5I5LSsRK618qZkO/s1600-h/Dermot_President2-low+rez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGxp5TMICLRdOrNxoUHHJza7AStNOUuiqMigUlETPl4_HQd8vsoPWpUFYRBEpLDOkBPEDO9QNc46xf5I8rP9qsZbECT05nbudXbbn4MOdD5hjCdRbYY4hucua0b3CD5I5LSsRK618qZkO/s400/Dermot_President2-low+rez.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(L) Dermot Keane, Palau Shark Sanctuary; (R) President Johnson Toribiong</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The large welcome committee included grateful members of the Palauan community who greeted President Toribiong with flower leis and loud applause upon his arrival. Palauans are understandably proud of their President who declared Palau as a Shark Sanctuary during his recent address to the United Nations, General Assembly, on Friday, September 25, 2009.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpduY9kHgbmUeS0PVD7fFJJNoNeS3Il0cgfRyxqDDg-UGJY1V8V659_G-9CsFFq1qG9u6QtIUvFuSMYVLhy3OWQRtqttgkWw-SO3VbEtPtk3KrISECyxr5RmZ4Q8NiU5mHvdUaT7NHbxRL/s1600-h/group+and+president3-low+rez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpduY9kHgbmUeS0PVD7fFJJNoNeS3Il0cgfRyxqDDg-UGJY1V8V659_G-9CsFFq1qG9u6QtIUvFuSMYVLhy3OWQRtqttgkWw-SO3VbEtPtk3KrISECyxr5RmZ4Q8NiU5mHvdUaT7NHbxRL/s400/group+and+president3-low+rez.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(C): President Toribiong; (R): Sam Scott, Sam's Tours (blue shirt)</span><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Despite his long journey from Washington D.C. to Palau, the President was clearly moved by the warm reception and graciously thanked everyone for showing up to welcome him. Palau Shark Sanctuary once again thanks and admires President Toribiong for his landmark declaration of Palau as a Shark Sanctuary.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KiVwBFwBJecEkVGjE2ecCNDarpnuGLx0wgMqE9MRIptMcdCr35s7OcR9gBFc4avi9JYZofKBHEytKeXBcec57UP52YqdWiB5kQ-v4mM4Whfbmnrx2zXMJBwgjONwWBtAl-CY6RU7Fk9a/s1600-h/group+and+president1-low+rez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KiVwBFwBJecEkVGjE2ecCNDarpnuGLx0wgMqE9MRIptMcdCr35s7OcR9gBFc4avi9JYZofKBHEytKeXBcec57UP52YqdWiB5kQ-v4mM4Whfbmnrx2zXMJBwgjONwWBtAl-CY6RU7Fk9a/s400/group+and+president1-low+rez.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Palau Shark Sanctuary was founded in 2001 with a goal of securing a declaration by Palau that the waters of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are a Shark Sanctuary.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For more information visit: www.sharksanctuary.com or <a href="http://www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/">http://www.sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All images courtesy Nick Martorano - <a href="http://www.oceanwonders.org/">Ocean Wonders</a>. <br />
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Images are approved for use provided credit is noted to: <a href="http://www.oceanwonders.org/">http://www.oceanwonders.org/</a><br />
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</div></div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-69731069930505526902009-09-27T22:47:00.000-07:002009-09-27T22:47:21.636-07:00THANK YOU PRESIDENT TORIBIONG!<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT83GfYB5ZXYZyHO1L8Ff8yG18LIK1iRC_jBNNPwoubbcGbnSxfQ24t9tvNHY_kJBwVFNG0hN5hL4so5VmJfdLWqd9FEEBcI_DcPMGi7hj7xp3nNKpQy56T_Qm0FEH6vpQM2T79h2ZD_p/s400/THXPREST.bmp" /><br />
</div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-49786858996284757412009-09-25T22:17:00.000-07:002009-09-25T23:22:35.745-07:00President Toribiongs Landmark Speech to U.N. General Assembly<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"The strength and beauty of sharks are a natural barometer for the health of our oceans. Therefore, I declare today that Palau will become the world’s first national shark sanctuary, ending all commercial shark fishing in our waters and giving a sanctuary for sharks to live and reproduce unmolested in our 237,000 square miles of ocean. We call upon all nations to join us."</span> <i>Johnson Toribiong, President of Palau</i>, 9/25/09.</b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z3YDg5fdMI8bNdPTPjT-eSTsLIlNXC9xzYHxlLsb7Vxn4mlji-ssIv4nH4H-7Et2iuC_gCbcc0RSGg_T1uzP_ENTa-8qUC90u_L4lXcRSKVEtavDgS5jpIRDs8itVppkx8isk7FviaRe/s1600-h/palau-no-to-sharkfins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z3YDg5fdMI8bNdPTPjT-eSTsLIlNXC9xzYHxlLsb7Vxn4mlji-ssIv4nH4H-7Et2iuC_gCbcc0RSGg_T1uzP_ENTa-8qUC90u_L4lXcRSKVEtavDgS5jpIRDs8itVppkx8isk7FviaRe/s320/palau-no-to-sharkfins.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> Image Courtesy: Gunther Deichmann - http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Below is President Toribiong's entire speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 25, 2009, in which he declared <b><span style="font-size: small;">Palau as the world's first national shark sanctuary. </span></b><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I urge you to read this excellent speech and to then send a Thank You Note to President Toribiong commending him for his unprecedented actions to protect sharks and other marine creatures.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Send notes for President Toribiong to: sharksanctuary@gmail.com<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will deliver them promptly to the President's Office.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank You!<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Dermot<br />
</div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><o:p _moz-userdefined=""></o:p></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>SPEECH: United Nations General Assembly, New York, September 25, 2009</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am speaking here for the first time as a Head of State. However, in 1977, I appeared with my country’s delegation before the Trusteeship Council seeking independence. In 1994, the Trusteeship ended and we took our place as a member of the United Nations. Our independence is testament to the success of the International Trusteeship System, for which we are grateful. The legacy of our experience is a Constitution which incorporates the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- freedom, democracy, equal protection, rule of law. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Palauans have lived throughout history in symbiosis with the sea. We are seeing now though that the sea, which has long been the source of our sustenance, is both rising in rage to destroy us and becoming barren. This fury was caused by the abuses of humankind and we therefore need to take every action necessary to allow the oceans to heal themselves. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In days gone by, the traditional chiefs of <st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"><st1:place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">Palau</st1:place></st1:country-region> would declare a “bul” – a moratorium to protect a resource which had become scarce. This traditional concept, now popularly known as conservation, shows the way for us to move forward. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed. “ This is why the world must declare a bul on destructive fishing practices like deep sea bottom trawling, unsustainable harvesting of shark for their fins and overexploitation of tuna stocks. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The odious fishing practice of bottom trawling, where a weighted net is dragged along the sea floor crushing nearly everything in its path, is contributing to the rapid loss of a critical ecosystem, our coral reefs. We have outlawed deep sea bottom trawling in <st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"><st1:place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">Palau</st1:place></st1:country-region>, but no matter what we do in our own waters, there must be an international solution. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For several years, we have advocated, along with our Pacific neighbors, a moratorium on this practice. The Sustainable Fisheries resolution adopted by the UN in 2007, urged nations and regional fisheries management organizations to stop trawling in sensitive areas by 2009. We have waited for compliance, which has not come, and now renew our call for a worldwide moratorium on this practice.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">An equally destructive fishing practice is shark-finning. We have banned it in <st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"><st1:place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">Palau</st1:place></st1:country-region> and call upon the world to address this issue in order to save the sharks from extinction. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The strength and beauty of sharks are a natural barometer for the health of our oceans. Therefore, I declare today that Palau will become the world’s first national shark sanctuary, ending all commercial shark fishing in our waters and giving a sanctuary for sharks to live and reproduce unmolested in our 237,000 square miles of ocean. We call upon all nations to join us.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is anomalous that <st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"><st1:place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">Palau</st1:place></st1:country-region> is experiencing economic difficulty while it sits in the middle of the richest waters in the world. We can no longer stand by while foreign vessels illicitly come to our waters to take our greatest resource, our tuna stocks, without regard to their conservation and without regard for adequate compensation to the island states which rely on this resource.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"><st1:place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">Palau</st1:place></st1:country-region> believes that the best model for a regional effort to conserve our tuna resources and maximize the benefits to us is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). I therefore will work for the establishment of OTEC, the Organization of Tuna Exporting Countries, and I now call upon our friends in OPEC to come forward and help us to understand and obtain fair value from our threatened resource and to make tuna fishing sustainable. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I come now to the economic crisis which my country is facing. As a developing nation, we are grateful for the grants provided by our allies and partners to advance our development. They have been helpful. But, we must acknowledge that outright grants do not always create meaningful employment. Jobs created are illusory and temporary. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Without a strong local economy, our children, our most valuable resource, are leaving our shores for opportunities elsewhere. As they leave it creates a continuing downward cycle which we must stop. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our allies and partners can help us stop this cycle by promoting the development of private enterprise in our country. We need capital, and entrepreneurial expertise. I implore our allies and partners to consider providing incentives to their nationals to encourage them to come to our islands and launch partnerships with our talented people to create a viable economy. Let us once and for all put aside the fiction that we need handouts. What we need are partners to help advance our economy and put an end to the out-migration of our people. <br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We note with satisfaction the decision by the People’s Republic of <st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> to invite <st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"><st1:place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region> to attend the World Health Assembly. The health and safety of the world’s people is at the heart of the ideals of the UN. In order to further promote these, we recommend that <st1:country-region _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on"><st1:place _moz-userdefined="" w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:place></st1:country-region> be invited to participate meaningfully in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other international organizations. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. President, <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We have heard the voices of world leaders from countries small and large, powerful and vulnerable. We have heard the voice of science. Let us heed these voices, fulfill our obligations to our people, and work for a strong economy and a healthy planet. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thank you.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"># # # <o:p _moz-userdefined=""></o:p></span><br />
</div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-76613460268970526352009-09-24T21:45:00.000-07:002009-09-25T00:40:58.408-07:00HUGE NEWS FOR SHARKS!<span style="font-size: x-large;">PALAU TO ANNOUNCE SHARK SANCTUARY!</span><br />
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H.E. Johnson Toribiong, President of the Republic of Palau, a tiny Pacific Island nation, will announce to the General Assembly of the United Nations on Friday September 25, 2009, that Palau has officially declared the waters of its Exclusive Economic Zone (230, 000 Sq. Miles / 620,000 Sq. Kms.) as the worlds first officially recognized SHARK SANCTUARY!<br />
President Toribiong will also call for a global ban on shark-finning and for other nations to follow suit. Through his actions, President Toribiong places Palau at the very forefront of worldwide efforts to protect sharks from unsustainable destruction. This is tremendous news for Palau and for the worldwide battle to protect sharks from unsustainable destruction!<br />
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Palau Shark Sanctuary anxiously awaits President Toribiong's official announcement and is standing by to commend him in the highest possible manner for his international leadership in world wide efforts to protect sharks. <br />
Palau Shark SanctuaryShark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-22307233727755190292009-09-08T17:00:00.000-07:002009-09-08T17:01:53.424-07:00Public Forum On Shark FinsI just came across this post on Fins Online Magazine regarding a Public Forum on Shark Fins that was held recently in Singapore. Some interesting and disturbing facts and figures. It's worth a read.<br />
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http://www.finsonline.com/blog/public-forum-on-shark-fins/<br />
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<a href="http://shar.es/1m0ED">Public Forum On Shark Fins</a><br />
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Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com/">ShareThis</a>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-37234008648786184322009-09-07T18:09:00.001-07:002009-09-07T18:12:20.721-07:00Post # 2 of 2 on Status of Shark Protection in Palau Today!<u>(See Post 1 of 2 Below):</u><br />
Post 1 provided an overview of shark fishing and finning in Palau going back at least as far as 1995, passage of some of the world's toughest shark protection legislation in 2003, and ended with a report on the status of Senate Bill 8-44 (proposal to permit shark fishing and finning) which was submitted to Congress (OEK) in March 2009, and recently deferred by the Senate in August until their next session this coming October.<br />
On the negative side (very negative), SB 8-44 proposed to undo Palau's world-leading shark protection legislation and instead promote the commercial fishing sharks and shark finning in Palau's waters. Make no mistake, passage of SB 8-44 has the potential to not only destroy Palau's fisheries (including sharks, turtles, rays, tuna and more) but also seriously threatens tourism, kingpin of Palau's fledgling economy. Likewise, passage of SB 8-44 will destroy in seconds the years of investment by Palau in strong environmental stewardship that has led to its’ current world-wide positive reputation as an environmental leader. In short, SB 8-44 risks not only the present and the future, but squanders the past. And thus far for no demonstrable benefit to Palau or Palauans! The international (including local) outcry that has arisen as a result of the proposal of SB 8-44 is in every way justifiable and should not rest until the threat is completely eliminated.<br />
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And now to the positive side! Surely there must be one, right? <br />
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The introduction of SB 8-44, has brought increased international and local attention to the utmost importance of sharks to healthy marine habitats, raised awareness of the massive threats sharks face at the hands of legal and illegal commercial fishing worldwide, highlighted the value of a healthy and thriving shark population to Palau's tourism based economy , and has brought in to public light the shocking theft and unsustainable destruction of all marine resources within Palau’s EEZ, by foreign fishing fleets. <br />
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Out of sight is so often also out of mind. And in the case of commercial fishing in Palau’s EEZ which takes place out of sight of land, few if any in the local community truly understand the horrendous rate of unsustainable destruction of Palau’s resources that is going on just over the horizon. (Recent aerial surveillance recorded 70 foreign fishing craft in Palau’s EEZ at one time). <br />
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Even fewer people to date have been aware of the relatively miniscule contributions by licensed fishing to Palau’s national treasury let alone the massive losses Palau incurs from illegal acts of piracy of Palau’s fisheries by international commercial fishing fleets. There are expert estimates that less than 7% of the market value of fish taken from Pacific Island waters (including Palau) actually ends up in the country from whose waters the catch was taken. Put another way, 93% of the value of fish taken from Pacific Island waters (including Palau) goes to foreign fishing fleets and or their home countries and NOT TO PALAU! That alone should be cause for outrage. And it just may be….or at the very least is the seed for a growing outrage.<br />
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The more the issue of shark fishing and finning is discussed in Palau (as a result of SB 8-44) the more focused is the attention being paid to the practices both legal and illegal of foreign fishing fleets both licensed and unlicensed in Palau’s waters. The onion is indeed being peeled back and the real and very rotten truth is starting to come to light. Finally, there is a growing realization within the community that commercial fishing by foreign fishing fleets in Palau’s waters is both costly and destructive to Palau and cannot possibly be sustained. <br />
The pressure must therefore be maintained on bringing to light to the community the true costs, damage and dangers that commercial fishing poses to all of Palau’s marine resources including our sharks.<br />
As was pointed out by recent visitors from PEW Foundation who came to Palau to assess the situation here regarding shark protection, the laws presently on the books in Palau and which remain in full effect despite any efforts to change them, are indeed among the toughest pieces of shark protection legislation of any nation around the world. <br />
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In effect, Palau is already a SHARK SANCTUARY….the process of formalizing it just has to be completed. It’s yet another reason why SB 8-44 must be defeated.<br />
Palau must be urged to complete what it started with it’s already bold stand on protecting sharks, by protecting forever the landmark legislation that SB 8-44 seeks to undo! <br />
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On that I am very positive!Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-39287569292359416482009-09-02T16:30:00.001-07:002009-09-02T21:40:23.397-07:00Shark Protection in Palau. Where Are We?There is no question that the battle to protect Palau's sharks must continue and it does, but perhaps it's time to review just exactly where we are right now in order to help determine how best to continue the fight.<br /><br /><strong>Shark Protection in Palau, September 2009</strong>:<br /><br />Despite efforts by some to the contrary, Palau continues its' six-year world leadership with perhaps the strongest shark protection legislation yet passed worldwide!<br /><br /><strong>Summary of Palau’s Shark Protection Law as of September 2003</strong>:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Palau’s laws makes it illegal for any foreign-fishing vessel to have any part of any shark, or turtle, or ray, on board at any time, for any reason, dead or alive.</span> <div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>If a shark or turtle or ray is caught alive it must be returned to the water in a manner that best ensures its survival. If dead it must be returned to the water in whole. It is a violation of the law to have onboard at any time a “steel leader”. A “leader” is the first several feet of fishing line joining the hook to the main body of line. Steel “leaders” (as opposed to monofilament fishing line) are used to target sharks as they cannot bite through the steel cable. Fines of up to $250,000 per incident are permitted against violators (each shark can be counted as one incident).<br /><br /><strong>How Did We Get To This Point</strong>? </div><br /><div><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd3TdBvrRS8ZXPUVG6PshLVwFZS2yoXzVyNXALmgfK4ZlyBaLNbFA7oH6fxaHcnDBZvkxhelILnmeg3xtojx57ktCYd5MSIVEIxEjYzk67AfRtsKp-isgplsltZf7tcOWSMIjTNBxI7xW/s1600-h/fin+a+small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377083967785671602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd3TdBvrRS8ZXPUVG6PshLVwFZS2yoXzVyNXALmgfK4ZlyBaLNbFA7oH6fxaHcnDBZvkxhelILnmeg3xtojx57ktCYd5MSIVEIxEjYzk67AfRtsKp-isgplsltZf7tcOWSMIjTNBxI7xW/s320/fin+a+small.jpg" border="0" /></a>IN 1995</strong>, and before, alarm was growing in several areas of the community as knowledge of the destruction of sharks that was occuring in Palau's waters at the hands of licensed foreign fishing vessels began to emerge. Shark fishing and shark finning was not illegal in Palau at the time and foreign fishing boats with shark fins hanging from their rigging were not unusual sights in Malakal Harbor. Who knows for how long this had been going on before it came to the attention of those who recognized the danger?</div><br /><div>An unsung hero in the passage of Palau’s first shark protection legislation is Noah Idechong, a former PEW Fellow, and current Delegate representing Ngiwal State to Palau’s Congress (OEK). As far back as 1997, and perhaps earlier, Idechong was fighting for shark protection laws for Palau. He was instrumental in crafting of the shark protection legislation that was eventually passed and played a key role in successfully guiding it through the long and difficult process of legal review, building of community support, overcoming of objections, and in finally rallying sufficient political support to secure their passage. Without his efforts Palau may not have taken such an early stance against shark fishing and shark finning.<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSnRu4A-ghnW7u8458h4FSxNGukTs831BgJsXRGuwyBqbP2PAM0OinEWfrMUkQ2idPkAvRyxxqQDZWV6xDl9C59axfL2LHcM221caO_wyPKMGk8vP3cQZkcTswmpdy-wCdKSY-ZuTXyPr/s1600-h/palsanclogo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377073538451987330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 172px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSnRu4A-ghnW7u8458h4FSxNGukTs831BgJsXRGuwyBqbP2PAM0OinEWfrMUkQ2idPkAvRyxxqQDZWV6xDl9C59axfL2LHcM221caO_wyPKMGk8vP3cQZkcTswmpdy-wCdKSY-ZuTXyPr/s320/palsanclogo.JPG" border="0" /></a>IN NOVEMBER 2001</strong>, Palau Shark Sanctuary was founded with the goal of establishing the waters of Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone as a SHARK SANCTUARY.<br /><br /><strong>IN MAY 2003</strong>, Palau’s President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., demonstrated his strong support for passage of even tougher shark protection laws by publicly set fire to shark fins found aboard a foreign vessel caught fishing illegally in Palau waters. Shark fishing was by then illegal but maximum fines allowed against violators were minimal and not a deterrent at all. It was a message heard round the world.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGIZPWFo6zpUfM9ZaxmzLInxLZWUF2dNz9zb6PJ4jNMMzLUnK8DzY1aCIU_mRMKGzjt_zJiPUcuPmwMiWqX9pPyI4dS6eoO9zgedySlOXuMNDOjj-i5XbBc2vC4oE0Jueq8eWeU70wRSm/s1600-h/107-0701_IMG.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377086894509656834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGIZPWFo6zpUfM9ZaxmzLInxLZWUF2dNz9zb6PJ4jNMMzLUnK8DzY1aCIU_mRMKGzjt_zJiPUcuPmwMiWqX9pPyI4dS6eoO9zgedySlOXuMNDOjj-i5XbBc2vC4oE0Jueq8eWeU70wRSm/s320/107-0701_IMG.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong>IN SEPTEMBER 2003</strong>, (6 years ago this month), President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., signed in to law some of the world's toughest shark protection legislation with heavy penalties of up to $250,000 per incident for violators. This ground-breaking legislation remains the law in Palau today, despite recent efforts to overturn it.<br /><br />In the 6 years since Palau’s bold move in 2003, no other country that I am aware of has passed shark protection laws remotely close to the strength of Palau’s laws.<br /><br /><strong>IN JANUARY 2004</strong>, Palau received international recognition from Shark Project as recipient of their very first Shark Guardian of The Year Award, for passage of such tough shark protection laws.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8eujW0x7hX6By5KYtaaA25zy6r5C6-fJ3RSGN-LXV6VlaOGa4H9xP-ouiWeze-W9s-Y6rB_8yZZd9s7aDgrhHKnjWzYzgY5SREPLw-2gzjX0lKWIuhm23zB2i7Hvg3wnqaeQKURtzo2r/s1600-h/11.02.04+President+Shark+award+(10).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377087592428540450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8eujW0x7hX6By5KYtaaA25zy6r5C6-fJ3RSGN-LXV6VlaOGa4H9xP-ouiWeze-W9s-Y6rB_8yZZd9s7aDgrhHKnjWzYzgY5SREPLw-2gzjX0lKWIuhm23zB2i7Hvg3wnqaeQKURtzo2r/s320/11.02.04+President+Shark+award+(10).JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><strong>Enforcement of Shark Protection - A Running Battle:</strong><br /><br />In the months and years since 2003, Palau’s Division of Marine Law Enforcement which operates Palau’s lone patrol boat “Remeliik” has been engaged in the frontline battle to protect Palau’s fisheries including enforcement of shark protection laws. Likewise, Palau’s Customs Officers and other law enforcement personnel have been engaged in monitoring the activities of foreign fishing vessels in Palau’s waters and have been successful in prosecuting a growing list of violators through Palau’s courts.<br /></div><br /><div>In my 12/8/08 Post I highlighted Palau's Marine Observer Program as yet another step in Palau's efforts to protect its fisheries and enforce its laws.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF08pKJ1qFbf20uBo0c7ybX2wrUXPWkoMJ9TtsGAaGynpFqwL_ul-wYaYSQ-j6l69uWj-m37XBVrmt4G-rNsUJMsZOf129nsjDWeEZYal7gqu5DVM4CgsCkpF5ua4dg0AQPgE7xp4MVQN_/s1600-h/captain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377091272888998690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF08pKJ1qFbf20uBo0c7ybX2wrUXPWkoMJ9TtsGAaGynpFqwL_ul-wYaYSQ-j6l69uWj-m37XBVrmt4G-rNsUJMsZOf129nsjDWeEZYal7gqu5DVM4CgsCkpF5ua4dg0AQPgE7xp4MVQN_/s320/captain.jpg" border="0" /></a>But fisheries protection for Palau is a classic "David versus Goliath" battle in the form of an international game of cat and mouse. </div><br /><div>Fleets of legal and illegal foreign fishing vessels from larger wealthier countries that include Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and Indonesia boldly violate Palau's laws and pirate their marine resources simply because they think they can. But Palau is not alone in the fight nor willing to give up quite so easily as recent high seas arrests by "Remeliik" has shown.<br /><br />Read back through posts on <a href="http://sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/">http://sharksanctuary.blogspot.com/</a> for more reports.<br /><br />The Royal Australian Navy which provided Palau (and many other Pacific Island nations) with their patrol boat maintains a Maritime Surveillance Team on the ground in Palau to advise and support the efforts of “Remeliik” in fisheries protection. The Royal Australian Navy Team provides technical assistance and training to the crew of “Remeliik” while the vessel itself is operated by an all Palauan crew.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham35Yz2W-KVd_giSaPq60NnVSqFBxp_9QyHoYk_r3vEpyci5GJC5JTdYxjAiM5qfwyf4nWAge0wniAVW39K5XJ-fEdYfG9pB9KIacbSD_bORkU1bxu_kF4GQ16d4FqHnMSsjmrbBUqzB2/s1600-h/100_7793.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377088458112501826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham35Yz2W-KVd_giSaPq60NnVSqFBxp_9QyHoYk_r3vEpyci5GJC5JTdYxjAiM5qfwyf4nWAge0wniAVW39K5XJ-fEdYfG9pB9KIacbSD_bORkU1bxu_kF4GQ16d4FqHnMSsjmrbBUqzB2/s320/100_7793.JPG" border="0" /></a>The Royal Australian Air Force also lends a hand with maritime surveillance using P3-Orion aircraft to monitor Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone. On a recent 3 day aerial patrol in August 2009, a total of 70 fishing vessels were recorded from countries that included Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.<br />Assault on Shark Protection in Palau:<br /><br /><strong>JANUARY 2009</strong>, Palau’s mostly new government of 16 State Delegates and 13 Senators was sworn in to office, along with Palau's new President H.E. Johnson Toribiong, thereby ending the eight year Remengesau administration. </div><div><br /><strong>Assault on Palau's Shark Protection Laws:</strong></div><div><br /><strong>MARCH 5, 2009</strong>, Senate Bill B No. 8-44 which proposes to allow commercial fishing for sharks was introduced by a newly elected Senator and passed on 1st reading that same day. </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong>MARCH 26, 2009,</strong> SB No. 8-50 which proposes to exempt commercial fishing companies from export taxes on fish caught by purse-seining methods for a period of 5 years was also introduced by another newly elected Senator and passed first reading on the same day too.<br /><br />So began the recent campaign to weaken and or repeal Palau’s six year old world-leading shark protection legislation and place Palau’s fisheries under threat. (Read March 17 and April 2, 2009, posts on this Blog for more details).<br /><br /><strong>IN A MARCH 17, 2009</strong>, Blog post, Palau Shark Sanctuary raised the alarm to the international community who immediately rallied to the cause with letters, blogs, petitions, radio shows and more, urging Palau’s newly installed government to maintain Palau’s strong shark protection and fisheries laws. </div><div> </div><div><strong>IN MARCH 2009</strong>, SB 8-44 was brought forth for discussion in the Senate which ended in deadlock and therefore the bill was deferred for possible action in the next session of congress scheduled to occur in October 2009.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377093205170974930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 156px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4PZc9CtJXnPcMIOLqQhhj_Jts9Utkr98dD85A26pOc7F-mbTPARVQX67rC1_TFK3sB5xNs8419aFQpUXK43mzbtCNIPB7Txek0Mhc_1PLpRpV4W4MKkahX40pmIX0Gqoa5ZsFKTHcFSYV/s320/SSFshirtflames.JPG" border="0" /><br />Part Two to Follow……..Stay Tuned!</div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-70947525412093182272009-08-27T04:56:00.000-07:002009-08-27T20:55:43.692-07:00Savings Sharks in Palau – Bad & Good News!A Broken Record on Repeat ! But wait! ...there's more.........<br /><br />It’s been a while since I’ve updated my Blog on what’s happening with sharks, shark protection, and the efforts to repeal Palau’s landmark shark protection legislation which is among the toughest in the world. There is much to report and my lack of posting is simply a reflection of the incredible and almost overwhelming pressure bearing down on sharks and shark conservation in Palau from so many angles that it is simply impossible for Palau’s marine law enforcement personnel let alone one person such as me to keep on top of things. We need help on every front and appreciate the efforts of those already engaged.<br /><br />I’ve not been idle in the battle to protect Palau’s sharks but alas neither have those intent on exploiting Palau’s sharks regardless of the environmental or economic consequences. Just as in the case of the numerous “Survivor” shows that have been shot in Palau, when it comes to shark protection and marine law enforcement it continues to be a case of who will outlast, outplay and outwit whom. Shall good triumph over evil?<br /><br />SHARK FINNING CONTINUES: (Bad News!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bjCBpt2D-0sZ6aMVEg6v69kzp2JMm2YVEOFG6O1s5SMcF_7jFxR5u6k-rVnxn6T1l8DpeDOASFZ1i9_edWt89TfjSc3M0hrWWI_RePmMF2SBfbHJBruEuE7RIMgV_CjbzOd3xvLI8-CS/s1600-h/DSC_0094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374656707076974914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bjCBpt2D-0sZ6aMVEg6v69kzp2JMm2YVEOFG6O1s5SMcF_7jFxR5u6k-rVnxn6T1l8DpeDOASFZ1i9_edWt89TfjSc3M0hrWWI_RePmMF2SBfbHJBruEuE7RIMgV_CjbzOd3xvLI8-CS/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />In my last post back in April 2009, I reported on the continuing pillage of Palau’s sharks by foreign fishing vessels. Sadly but oh! so predictably it continues just as before. Most recently (August 2009) there was yet another in a long and growing list of foreign fishing vessels caught illegally fishing in Palau’s waters and of course upon inspection, it was found to be loaded with sharks and shark fins. The officers and crew of Palau’s lone patrol boat “REMELIIK” are to be commended for their ongoing efforts to bring these international criminals to justice but unfortunately not everyone in Palau, including some of our leaders, appear to respect the importance, significance and sacrifices of their work.<br /><br />Weakening or repealing Palau's present shark protection laws as proposed in SB 8-44, will almost certainly prevent Palau's law enforcement personnel from successfully prosecuting high seas criminals hell bent on stealing Palau's sovereign resources.<br /><br />I was on vacation and therefore not around to photograph and document the shocking catch of yet another illegal shark-finning pirate, but unfortunately it probably looks the same as the myriad images I’ve already taken over the years of senselessly slaughtered sharks, so I’m posting some file photos instead, all of which are taken in Palau.<br /><br />LEGISLATION (SB 8-44): (More Bad News!)<br /><br />It’s also no secret that earlier this year (March 17 post) Senate Bill (SB) 8-44 was introduced by one of Palau’s newly elected Senators which proposes to repeal Palau’s world-leading shark protection laws and instead permit and promote commercial shark fishing and shark finning for the supposed economic gain of Palau. No evidence or data was included in the bill that supported an economic argument justifying the bills introduction quite likely because there is none.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgKSioUYKyrC74vbtjEJbgmsBlVtMgIdlq0tsm2dLCfsV8wtppi6Xv76_6APhGadR0BjxcLcjiuHyq8kFroYYIop8no6mFPYMr3GPicSw4GYFmxmsisBZIMyfPm6RVIEj40P9JQrCQnsO/s1600-h/IMG_1636.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374656715143673346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgKSioUYKyrC74vbtjEJbgmsBlVtMgIdlq0tsm2dLCfsV8wtppi6Xv76_6APhGadR0BjxcLcjiuHyq8kFroYYIop8no6mFPYMr3GPicSw4GYFmxmsisBZIMyfPm6RVIEj40P9JQrCQnsO/s320/IMG_1636.JPG" border="0" /></a>The real issue is the battle between those who seek to exploit Palau’s resources for short term and or personal gain at any cost and those who believe in the sustainable management of Palau's natural resources for the long term benefit of the entire community.<br /><br />While the message being put forth by supporters of the proposed legislation for commercial shark fishing and finning (SB 8-44) is one of “we are taking care of Palauans”, conversations with many other Palauans indicate that they are repulsed by what is being proposed (supposedly to their benefit) by some of their leaders. There is great concern that SB 8-44 is being driven by wealthy overseas commercial fishing companies, especially from the Philippines, that may have compromised sound decision-making by some of Palau's leaders in exchange for personal gain.<br /><br />Palauans have long history of sustainable use of their resources. It is not a new idea. On the contrary it is a practice that has been integral to Palauans' survival for hundreds of years. When Palauans are exposed to the real truth and evidence of the massive damage and destruction already being done to their fisheries by illegal foreign fishing companies they will surely be even more revolted. It's not just about sharks, it concerns all of Palau's marine resources. The waters of Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone are under immense and ever-increasing onslaught by licensed and unlicensed fishing companies seeking out every last living creature within. Aerial surveillance shows strings of illegally placed FADs (Fish Attracting Devices) placed in Palau's waters and surrounded by foreign fishing vessels that are quite likely taking everything they possibly can including tuna, sharks, turtles, rays and anything else that will turn a profit for them. And where does the money go? In to the hands of foreign fishing companies and the pockets of those who do their bidding. And what about Palau's fisheries? Most every Palauan fisherman will readily admit that there are less fish in their waters today than a mere ten years ago.<br /><br />While it may take science to prove that, it certainly doesn't take a scientist to figure out that it's true. And it makes sense. Palau's waters are being vacuumed bare at an ever increasing rate both legally and illegally....but it's been out of sight and scrutiny of the community for many years. Now the effects of unsustainable destruction of high seas fisheries are beginning to be seen closer to shore and questions are now being raised within the community. Instead of weakening shark protection laws there are a growing number that belives it is time for Palau to toughen and broaden protection of its' marine resources and to punish scofflaw illegal fishing companies for their acts of piracy, in full view of the international community. Palau can do it!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374656065850113138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsn_sjGT3OHRIEXSOvS82hLggAONu80DKoII4rK7LU-OvrpiWH1LfSTbqZuL37Rl9IVJdsOb14ro_6DEoQI_a5BZSiWdORTMC_RHtdo-uBFG_I84_8CTihvqInQGnEi3MGYLMAIEQltst/s320/IMG_1685.JPG" border="0" />Although Palau is among the newest and smallest countries in the world and within the United Nations, Palau has long track record of strong leadership in conservation that shames many of the so called and much wealthier developed nations.<br /><br />Just as one person can make a difference, so too can one country.<br /><br />GOOD NEWS! (And we sure need some!)<br /><br />For now, SB 8-44 is deferred until the next Congress session in October (at which time it will undoubtedly rear its ugly head once again). It's a good start for now and one we hope to build on. Many thanks to all who helped thus far.<br /><br />On another positive note, the dive industry, tour companies, Palau Chamber of Commerce, Belau Tourism Association, Palau Visitors Authority and a growing number of private individuals are strongly united in opposition to SB 8-44. Palau Chamber of Commerce and Belau Tourism Association have issued strong public statements in opposition to any lessening of shark protection in Palau and in fact may soon call for even stronger shark protection legislation.<br /><br />With the aid of Michael Skoletsky <a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/">http://www.sharksavers.org/</a> more than 4,500 signatures have already been collected from around the world and delivered to Palau’s leadership voicing clear opposition to the legalization of shark fishing and shark finning proposed in SB 8-44. Yet another testament that one person can indeed make a difference. I urge you to get involved!<br /><br />This very moment there are members of PEW Foundation (<a href="http://www.pewenvironment.org/">http://www.pewenvironment.org/</a>) on the ground in Palau assessing the situation and evaluating where and when they may be of assistance to Palau in securing the continued and increased protection of our sharks. Thus far they have been very positively received and are quite impressed with the strong sentiment in the community that shark fishing and shark finning are both inappropriate and unacceptable practices in Palau's waters.<br /><br />I'm also very pleased to report that the House of Traditional Leaders, a powerful organization of Palauan traditional chiefs that serves in an advisory capacity to elected President H.E. Johnson Toribiong, are in opposition to any weaking of Palau's strong shark protection laws.<br /><br />I will wrap this rather lengthy post with the message of hope that while the plight of sharks worldwide is indeed depressing and demoralizing, the growing resolve of the community in Palau to fight for their protection, regardless of the odds, is both invigorating and inspirational.<br /><br />One person can make a difference. Every persons effort counts. If you care about the health of the oceans, this is the time to stand up and be counted too. Get involved!Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-58535423391404405052009-04-26T22:42:00.000-07:002009-04-27T17:43:24.468-07:00Shark Fishing Continues! Thumbing Their Noses at Palau!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAtGvcAxOShyk2cXNrwGcp7gapcmZ7E3C4kEURyJ0tAqbQxs-fhC228zaXemy6PuYF8-wGYOBAXEyVq1t5CEnceDU88MZIBiQw4JIb3_dv1jO-h3Nl8Fsq3RzU-ppnRLGYaj0x_PYPwjM/s1600-h/FIN-723764.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329244013939691282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAtGvcAxOShyk2cXNrwGcp7gapcmZ7E3C4kEURyJ0tAqbQxs-fhC228zaXemy6PuYF8-wGYOBAXEyVq1t5CEnceDU88MZIBiQw4JIb3_dv1jO-h3Nl8Fsq3RzU-ppnRLGYaj0x_PYPwjM/s320/FIN-723764.jpg" border="0" /></a>Like a broken record, I am sad to report yet another case of apparent illegal shark fishing by a foreign fishing vessel licensed to commercially fish in Palau’s waters through a local fishing company. Despite Palau’s very clear laws prohibiting shark fishing and despite the fact that boat captains, crews, and fishing companies are more than well aware of the laws, they continue to boldly thumb their noses at Palau and demonstrate their total disregard for Palau’s laws and ocean environment. Like a broken record, the company under which the fishing vessel is licensed to operate in Palau has been repeatedly charged with previous violations of Palau’s shark fishing laws. Why those who so clearly have total disregard for Palau resources and conservation laws are continually encouraged and invited to operate is a glaring question that appears to have but one answer. MONEY! Or perhaps two answers. BIG MONEY!! <em><strong>(<span style="font-size:85%;">Picture: Gunther Deichmann. Illegal Sharks Bali, Indonesia)</span></strong></em><br /><br />About a week ago a foreign fishing vessel licensed in Palau under locally owned company Kuniyoshi Fishing Company (KFC), ran aground on the reefs off the east side of Palau adjacent to Airai State. While it apparently took several days for investigative teams to conduct a search and survey of the area and or the boat, sources in Palau inform me that bags of shark fins and or shark carcasses along with steel leaders used by fishermen to specifically target sharks, were found underwater in the area where the boat ran aground. The use of steel leaders is prohibited under Palau law. Apparently the vessel was enroute from the fishing grounds to Malakal Harbor for unloading when the captain fell asleep causing the boat to hit the reef. One can only speculate what evidence may have been destroyed before authorities were able to secure the scene.<br /><br />The Attorney Generals Office has reportedly filed notice of probable cause and is expected to file charges against the fishing company with a number of violations.<br /><br />As you may be aware, Palau has very clear and very strong laws adopted in 2003 that protect sharks and forbid foreign fishing vessels from having any part of any turtle, shark, or ray on board at any time, dead or alive. Likewise, steel leaders are prohibited on board as they are clearly the tools of those who target sharks. But Palau’s laws are under threat of repeal at this very moment if recently introduced Senate Bill SB8-44, to permit commercial fishing for sharks and shark finning, passes in to law. A follow-up killer punch is Senate Bill SB 8-50, also recently introduced, which proposes to encourage commercial purse-seining fisheries in Palau’s waters by granting them a 5 year exemption on the fish export taxes payable to Palau.<br /><br />Clearly, there are opposing forces at work and incompatible forces at that. Palau relies heavily on tourism as the mainstay of its emerging economy and yet heavy pressure is being applied to pass laws that many believe will destroy the very environment upon which Palau has staked its future. We cannot have unsustainable fisheries and sustainable tourism. Palau must choose one or the other.<br /><br />The shark conservation organization SHARK SAVERS has created an on-line petition where you may register your opposition to Senate Bill 8-44 and commercial shark fishing in Palau. At last report, over two thousand petitioners around the world have registered their objections to SB 8-44, and encouraged Palau to maintain their reputation and status as an environmental role-model. Please visit the link below and sign this petition today.<br /><br />Petition Link: <a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/542-petition-to-palau-stop-senate-bill-8-44-on-shark-fishing.html">http://www.sharksavers.org/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/542-petition-to-palau-stop-senate-bill-8-44-on-shark-fishing.html</a><br /><br />Comments are also requested to be submitted to Palau Chamber of Commerce and Belau Tourism Association respectively at: <a href="mailto:pcoc@palaunet.com">pcoc@palaunet.com</a> and <a href="mailto:bta@palaunet.com">bta@palaunet.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">HELP SAVE PALAU’S SHARKS!</p>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-65228339056392812822009-04-12T21:07:00.000-07:002009-04-12T21:27:59.837-07:00Update: Proposed Shark Fishing Legislation, Palau, Micronesia.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe0KI7h1jA1TluhogLP2mREJY4TIy7Ce221thVOH9i1FvIS-o_98qgDqqW3gaHRuaNd-eW7uALi3xfV8YikP3fORokddrV8-w-2BWz0zwLHCSLN2EzOndfR20_MKmx-kLtVcTiZmaBS-w/s1600-h/shark+fins+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324024715189449170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe0KI7h1jA1TluhogLP2mREJY4TIy7Ce221thVOH9i1FvIS-o_98qgDqqW3gaHRuaNd-eW7uALi3xfV8YikP3fORokddrV8-w-2BWz0zwLHCSLN2EzOndfR20_MKmx-kLtVcTiZmaBS-w/s200/shark+fins+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The two controversial Senate Bills (SB8-44 and SB8-50) which propose to undo Palau’s landmark shark protection laws adopted under the previous Remengesau Administration in 2003, are both pending at the Senate Committee on Resources, Commerce, Trade and Development.<br /><br />SB No. 8-44 which proposes to allow commercial fishing for sharks was introduced on March 5, 2009 and passed 1st reading on that same day.<br /><br />SB No. 8-50 which proposes to exempt commercial fishing companies from export taxes on fish caught by purse-seining methods for a period of 5 years was introduced on March 26, 2009 and passed first reading on the same day too.<br /><br />For background on these controversial Bills read earlier posts on this Blog. Visit Palau Shark Sanctuary for more information on shark conservation efforts in Palau at:<br /><a href="http://www.sharksanctuary.com/">http://www.sharksanctuary.com/</a><br /><p align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-cEM1ZbrU5aIG7CikSyo6Kq2wp6bjzan5zqKb8U4MLLP2TCDqLbLvirrlNpc9f0WciIXeXj5XjtOi5myWdCegAsAo3c1vwzz2Cat-R_-F6g1OI3CFJLOlyMkPz9htq7OUvgvrv84saW0/s1600-h/SSFshirtflames.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324025482234863938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-cEM1ZbrU5aIG7CikSyo6Kq2wp6bjzan5zqKb8U4MLLP2TCDqLbLvirrlNpc9f0WciIXeXj5XjtOi5myWdCegAsAo3c1vwzz2Cat-R_-F6g1OI3CFJLOlyMkPz9htq7OUvgvrv84saW0/s200/SSFshirtflames.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>According to Senate sources if the committee reports on these proposed Bills in the next session of the Senate which opens tomorrow, the Bills will go to their 2nd Reading.<br /><br />The shark conservation organization SHARK SAVERS has created an on-line petition where you may register your opposition to Senate Bill 8-44 and commercial shark fishing. Please visit the link below and sign this petition today. Time is of the essence. Please act now!<br /><br /><br />PETITION: <a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/en/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/542-petition%20-to-palau-stop-senate-bill-8-44-on-shark-fishing.html">http://www.sharksavers.org/en/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/542-petition%20-to-palau-stop-senate-bill-8-44-on-shark-fishing.html</a><br /><br />BLOG: <a href="http://www.sharksavers.org/en/blogs/shark-savers-blog.html">http://www.sharksavers.org/en/blogs/shark-savers-blog.html</a><br /><br />Also, please continue to pass the word to others and continue to submit comments to Palau Chamber of Commerce and Belau Tourism Association respectively at: <a href="mailto:pcoc@palaunet.com">pcoc@palaunet.com</a> and <a href="mailto:bta@palaunet.com">bta@palaunet.com</a><br /><br />Many thanks to all who have already acted including professional photographers and environmentalists EDWARD DORSON, TODD ESSICK and GUNTHER DEICHMANN who are among the many concerned individuals who have taken time to submit their comments in opposition to these Bills. These professional photographers have all visited and dived in Palau and know just how important sharks are to Palau’s tourism industry and to the entire marine eco-system. We appreciate their support.<br /><br />Visit their websites and blogs for more information and fantastic images at:<br /><br />Edward Dorson: <a href="http://dorsonstudios.com/">http://dorsonstudios.com/</a><br /><br />Todd Essick: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.essickphoto.com">http://www.blogger.com/www.essickphoto.com</a><br /><br />Gunther Deichmann: <a href="http://gdphotonews.blogspot.com/">http://gdphotonews.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br /><a title="http://www.deichmann-photo.com/" href="http://www.deichmann-photo.com/">http://www.deichmann-photo.com/</a><br /><br /><a title="http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html" href="http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html">http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html</a>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-65324363778447766122009-04-07T02:07:00.000-07:002009-04-07T02:31:02.023-07:00International Response to Threat to Palau's Sharks!Just a quick update to thank all of you who have taken the time to submit your comments regarding the proposed legislations to permit commercial shark fishing and promote purse-seining in Palau's EEZ. There is still time to comment, so if you've not already done so, please take the time now and submit your comments. For more information on the issue at hand, please read the post immediately preceding this one. <br /><br />All messages sent to the Belau Tourism Association bta@palaunet.com and Palau Chamber of Commerce pcoc@palaunet.com have been submitted to the Senate Committee in charge of reviewing these Bills.<br /><br />By way of clarification, these Bills were submitted by just two of Palau's thirteen Senators and don't necessarily reflect the position of the Administration or other Senators. The Bills will be reviewed in Committee before further action is taken. It is therefore very important that the review committee hears from as many people as possible on the potential damage to Palau's marine environment and tourism industry that passage of these proposed Bills (SB8-44 and SB8-50) may cause.<br /><br />Following are LINKS to some of the organizations that have already publicized this issue that includes SHARK DIVERS, FINS ONLINE MAGAZINE, GUNTHER DEICHMANN, STOP SHARK FINNING. RTSEABLOG. I sincerely appreciate your support. I also apologize to those I've missed and I'm sure there are plenty. I will post more links as time permits.<br /><br />http://sharkdivers.blogspot.com/2009/03/palaus-shark-conservation-under-sieg<br />e.html<br /><br />http://sharkdivers.blogspot.com/2009/04/palaus-shark-shame-tourism-blowback.<br />html<br /><br />http://rtseablog.blogspot.com/2009/04/palaus-proposed-sharkfishing.html<br /><br />http://www.finsonline.com/blog/palau-sharks-under-seige/<br /><br />http://gdphotonews.blogspot.com/<br /><br />http://www.stopsharkfinning.net/contact.htm<br /><br />I've also had support from <a title="http://www.year-of-the-shark-2009.org/" href="http://www.year-of-the-shark-2009.org/" target="_blank">http://www.year-of-the-shark-2009.org</a><br />Let Sharks Live Think Tank Network<br /><a title="http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en" href="http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en</a><br /> and from <a title="blocked::http://savesharksnow.livejournal.com/" href="http://savesharksnow.livejournal.com/">http://savesharksnow.livejournal.com/</a><br /><br />I am working on an online petition and other outreach programs and will post that information as soon as I can.<br /><br />Please continue to spread the word and urge as many people as possible to submit their comments.<br /><br />Thanks<br />DermotShark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-57838784696732468902009-04-02T00:05:00.000-07:002009-04-02T01:44:26.838-07:00The Pressure Mounts on Palau's Sharks and Other Marine Species!On the heels of recently proposed legislation (SB8-44) that would undo Palau's ban on shark fishing comes yet another threat to Palau's marine resources and national treasury by way of proposed legislation (SB8-50) to exempt fishing companies from export taxes on fish caught by purse seining and to allow those fish to be off-loaded at a foreign port(s).<br /><br />SENATE BILL S-44 proposes:<br />"To amend Title 27 of the Palau National Code to allow for the commercial fishing of sharks within Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone, to impose a tax on the export of sharks and tuna-like species, and for other related purposes."<br /><br />SENATE BILL S-50 proposes:<br />"To exempt, for a period of five years, the export of tuna and tuna-like species caught using the group purse seining or handline fishing method from Palau's fish export tax, to allow for an alternate transshipment port for fish caught using the group purse seining or handline fishing method, and for other related purposes."<br /><br />The bill goes on to say in Section 4: "For five year from the effective date of this Act, the export of any fish caught by a commercial fishing company using the group purse seining or handline fishing method shall be exempt from the fish export tax"<br /><br />If these two proposed bills pass in to law, the combined effect will be:<br /><ul><li>To permit and encourage the killing of sharks in Palau's waters</li><li>To promote shark finning</li><li>To promote fishing methods that according to Monterey Bay Aquarium "result in large amounts of unintended catch" including sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays and juveniles: <a href="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_gear.aspx">http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_gear.aspx</a></li><li>To exempt fishing companies from any export taxes on fish taken from Palau's waters</li><li>To make it practically impossible for Palau's law enforcement personnel to successfully prosecute alleged violators in the courts</li><li>To risk destroying Palau's sustainable tourism industry</li><li>To risk destroying Palau's marine resources through unsustainable practices</li><li>To gamble on all of the above for no apparent gain to Palau or Palauans.</li></ul><p>Both proposed Bills are conspicuously absent of any information, explanation or data to demonstrate a positive benefit to the People of Palau and or Palau's National Treasury from passage of these Bills. Meanwhile, members of Palau's tourism industry are becoming increasingly alarmed at the potential severe negative impacts on tourism and the pristine marine environment that underpins that industry, if these Bills pass in to law.</p><p>There are very active negotiations underway between Palau and The Philippines at this very time to enter in to commercial fishing agreements and clearly there are elements of strong political support for the fishing companies as indicated by SB 8-44 and SB 8-50.</p><p> The private industry organizations Palau Chamber of Commerce (<a href="mailto:pcoc@palaunet.com">pcoc@palaunet.com</a>) and Belau Tourism Association (<a href="mailto:bta@palaunet.com">bta@palaunet.com</a>) and the government tourism office Palau Visitors Authority (<a href="mailto:pva@visit-palau.com">pva@visit-palau.com</a>) are urging those around the world opposed to shark fishing, shark finning and unsustainable fishing practices to please express their concerns immediately by e-mail to all of the respective organizations. </p><p>It is ironic in The International Year of The Shark 2009, that Palau, the worlds very first winner of Sharkprojects "Shark Guardian of The Year Award" is considering legislation that could potentially put it at bitter odds with the international shark conservation community and destroy its reputation as a world class dive destination known for abundant sharks and large pelagic animals.</p><p align="center">SAVE PALAU'S SHARKS</p>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-6052132393799545482009-03-17T22:53:00.000-07:002009-03-17T23:47:14.977-07:00Repeal of Palau's Shark Protection Laws Proposed!A bill has been submitted to Palau's OEK (Congress) that if passed would eliminate Palau's strong shark protection laws and actively encourage fishing for sharks and the taking of shark fins.<br /><br />Senate Bill No. 8-44 seeks "to amend Title 27 of Palau's National Code to allow for the commercial fishing of sharks within Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone, to impose a tax on the export of sharks and tuna-like species, and for other related purposes."<br /><br />The proposed law is a potentially severe blow to Palau's tourism industry of which scuba diving is the mainstay. Palau gained international recognition in 2004 for passage of landmark legislation that protected sharks, turtles and rays and outlawed the practice of shark-finning. Under Senate Bill 8-44 it is unclear whether shark fishing and or shark-finning is or is not permitted and the ambiguity will make it virtually impossible for law enforcement to successfully prosecute potential violators. Sections of the bill read as follows:<br /><br />"It is unlawful for any person: to remove the fins of or otherwise intentionally mutilate or injure any such shark"<br /><br />"It shall be unlawful for any person to have on board a fishing vessel shark fins that total more than five percent of the weight of sharks on board."<br /><br />Other provisions of the proposed Act call for:<br /><br />"An appropriate export tax for shark and fish caught pursuant to this Act."<br /><br />"A minimum monetary or in-kind fish donation that commercial fishing companies shall make to the Belau National Hospital, the Aging Program within the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, or similar governmental agency or private, non-profit organization. These donations shall come from fish or shark caught pursuant to this Act, or revenues generated from those fish or shark."<br /><br />Members of the Belau Tourism Association, Palau Chamber of Commerce and the Palau Visitors Authority are strongly opposed to passage of this legislation.<br /><br />Fishing company consortiums from the city of General Santos, Philippines, are pressing hard for rights to fish in Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone and it is widely believed that introduction of this bill is no mere coincidence. Foreign fishing fleets have a well documented track record of violating Palau's environmental laws, poaching Palau's marine resources and violating fishing agreements. This proposed Bill puts the Palau's tourism industry directly at odds with commercial fishing in Palau's waters as the two are simply incompatible.<br /><br />In 2004 Palau was recognized by shark conservation agency Sharkproject as their Shark Guardian of The Year. Passage of Senate Bill 8-44 will be a sudden and potentially costly about face for Palau that will yield no gain. Palau only stands to lose...lose its fisheries and its dive industry.<br /><br />I urge you to speak out against this proposed Bill by sending your comments to all of the following organizations who are fighting against Senate Bill 8-44:<br />Belau Tourism Association: <a href="mailto:bta@palaunet.com">bta@palaunet.com</a><br />Palau Chamber of Commerce: <a href="mailto:pcoc@palaunet.com">pcoc@palaunet.com</a><br />Palau Visitors Authority: <a href="mailto:pva@visit-palau.com">pva@visit-palau.com</a>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2519803072986235280.post-11649601218561625922009-01-18T00:04:00.000-08:002009-01-18T00:07:31.246-08:00Every Week is SHARK WEEK in Palau!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0ZAsQv2yy3MYXoK263PipXfOVnmzzIFVD8ANo72JuP5opBHuUN4BAPsgNnMR_PVel9fp7LV_4Ncsjk6raxivQzYPAAzUm3VH0OHzv61k1StqmzSLN0_KuECokFyOexTHm1WbpDocUTf_/s1600-h/sharkwk.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292542268288035234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 92px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0ZAsQv2yy3MYXoK263PipXfOVnmzzIFVD8ANo72JuP5opBHuUN4BAPsgNnMR_PVel9fp7LV_4Ncsjk6raxivQzYPAAzUm3VH0OHzv61k1StqmzSLN0_KuECokFyOexTHm1WbpDocUTf_/s320/sharkwk.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>For Immediate Release:<br />Dusseldorf, Germany: January, 17, 2009<br /><br />Announcing S.AV.E. Our Sharks – Shark Awareness Visitor Education Program!<br /><br />Sam’s Tours Palau is pleased to announce the official launch of SHARK WEEKS (<a href="http://www.sharkweeks.com/">http://www.sharkweeks.com/</a>) marking a year long commitment to shark awareness and education in support of the International Year of The Shark 2009, to help bring an end to the unprecedented slaughter and destruction of sharks worldwide.<br /><br />Palau is renowned among divers for exciting encounters with sharks in their natural environment. There is no need to bait sharks, stage orchestrated shark feeds or place divers in shark cages. As a veteran Palauan dive guide says “every week is shark week in Palau!” and it’s true. Divers and snorkelers can encounter sharks on almost every outing all year round. While different times of the year bring different behaviors among sharks, diving and snorkeling with sharks is an experience to be enjoyed year round in Palau.<br /><br />And “shark diving” is not just limited to dive trips or snorkel trips. Kayakers participating in tours with Planet Blue Sea Kayak Tours may enjoy unique opportunities to visit shark nurseries in the inner lagoon areas where baby black tip sharks hide out until mature enough to take their place on the outer reef.<br /><br />Even those enjoying helicopter rides with “Matt the Pilot” over at Palau Helicopters are often treated to shark sightings. In fact, Matt most recently reported sightings of baby hammerhead sharks within the lagoon which were heretofore almost unknown. Bottom line, there are few better places than Palau for exciting up close shark encounters whether you’re a diver, a snorkeler or simply enjoying a birds eye view of Palau from the air.<br /><br />What better place then than Palau to get up close and personal with sharks and learn about their critical role in the marine environment, understand their life cycle, witness their importance to Palau’s fledgling tourism industry, and learn about the unprecedented destruction in a matter of a few short years of a creature that has otherwise survived unchanged for millions of years? Why limit shark awareness to a once a year Shark Week when in fact every week is Shark Week in Palau?<br /><br />As a member of the International Year of The Shark and a long standing supporter of shark conservation in Palau, Sam’s Tours is therefore proud to launch SHARK WEEKS with a year long S.A.V.E. our SHARKS (Shark Awareness Visitor Education) program.<br /><br />Throughout Shark Weeks guests will enjoy shark awareness and shark education interpretive briefings that will enhance their shark encounters in Palau and hopefully encourage them to join the fight to protect sharks worldwide. SAVE our SHARKS certificates will be presented to those who complete the program and they will be listed in the Palau Shark Sanctuary Shark Savers Registry.<br /><br />Throughout 2009, Sam’s Tours will also conduct Shark Byte, a year long free competition for Sam’s Tours guests in search of the best digital image of a shark taken in Palau. Starting February 1, 2009, and every week until the end of the International Year of the Shark 2009, we will select a winning image for Shark Byte of the week from entries received that week. Winners of Shark Byte of the Week will receive a Palau Shark Sanctuary T-shirt and have their image posted on-line. Weekly winners will automatically be entered in Shark Byte of the Year, with the results of the competition to be announced at the close of the International Year of the Shark.<br /><br />The Grand Prize for the Winner of Sam’s Tours Shark Byte includes:<br />Round Trip Airfare from Manila to Palau<br />7 Nights Hotel Accommodation<br />5 Days of Diving (or other tour of the winners choice)<br /><br />To reserve your place or more information on Shark Weeks, please visit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sharkweeks.com/">http://www.sharkweeks.com/</a> or contact: <a href="mailto:RESERVATIONS@SAMSTOURS.COM">RESERVATIONS@SAMSTOURS.COM</a><br /><br />Other informative links:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sharksanctuary.com/">http://www.sharksanctuary.com/</a><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.samstours.com/">http://www.samstours.com/</a></div><br /><div></div>Shark Sanctuaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00108312691161693995noreply@blogger.com0