D O M E S T I CF I S H I N GL A W S

1 9 9 8

PA L A U

and

the Information Section of the Marine Resources Division

of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

Produced by

the Division of Marine Resources (DMR) of the Republic of Palau

Printed with financial assistance from the Government of France

Some illustrations are originals by Jipé LeBars (SPC).

Others were reproduced from the FAO Species Catalogues.

1

This information is presented to acquaint commer-cial and pleasure domestic fishermen with the mainNational laws pertaining to fishing in domestic watersof the Republic of Palau. It does not include the Statelaws applying to fishing and the National laws applyingto foreign fishing.

This document is not a legal text. References to thelegal texts are given with each law cited. The full text ofthe laws and rules is available for review at the Divisionof Marine Resources offices. This information is currentat the date of printing (June 1998) and subject tochange. If questions arise concerning this document,please contact DMR (see contact on p. 48).

No part of this publication may be reproduced forcommercial or non-educational purposes.

C O N T E N T SThe Division of Marine Resources p. 2Regulated species

Groupers p. 6Rabbitfish p. 8Humphead parrotfish p. 10Napoleon wrasse p. 12Aquarium species p. 14Rock lobsters p. 16Mangrove crab p. 18Coconut crab p. 20Turtles p. 22Giant clams p. 24Trochus p. 26Blacklip pearl oyster p. 28Sea cucumbers p. 30Dugongs p. 32Sponges, hard corals & marine rock p. 34

Other restrictionsGear restrictions p. 38Exporting marine resources p. 40Marine research p. 41

Regulated marine species – summary p. 42

F O R E W O R D

3

Marine and aquaculture re s e a rc hDMR operated the world’s largest giant-clam

hatchery as a site for research and education. DMR,through the Micronesian Mariculture and Demon-stration Center (MMDC), is known worldwide for itssuccess in farming giant clams.

Recently, following an executive order from thePresident of the Republic of Palau, the Center wasrenamed Palau Ma ri c u l t u re and De m o n s t ra t i o nCenter (PMDC). Beside giant clams, the Center isnow farming hard and soft corals, trochus, coraltrout, rabbitfish and grouper.

DMR also invites scientists from all over the worl dto conduct needed re s e a rch in Pa l a u, and coord i n a t e sall marine and aquaculture re s e a rch efforts in compli-ance with the Ma rine Protection Act of 1994.

Community and outreach serv i c e sDMR provides a wide range of services to the

community. The Division:• p rovides advisory services to states for mari n e

re s o u rces development and management;• provides technical assistance and advisory ser-

vices on the purchasing, handling, marketing andprocessing of fish and other marine products;

• maintains an active public education program;• responds to requests from communities and

individuals for assistance, and utilize s, whena p p ro p ri a t e, the services of regional org a n i z a-tions such as the Se c re t a riat of the Pa c i f i cCommunity (SPC), the South Pacific Fo ru mFi s h e ries Agency (FFA) and the South Pa c i f i cRegional En v i ronment Pro g ramme (SPREP);

2

The Division of Marine Resources’ (DMR) work ismainly focused on marine resources within Palau’sbarrier reef. Corals, sea cucumbers, crabs, lobsters,aquarium fish, commercial fish species, sea turtles,d u g o n g s, and all their habitats, fall under theDivision’s mandate to manage and develop Palau’smarine resources.

The Di v i s i o n’s duties can be divided into fourc a t e g o ri e s :

• resource management;• resource development;• marine and aquaculture research; and• community and outreach services.

R e s o u rce managementDMR manages Palau’s living marine resources and

their habitats. DMR is also responsible for monitor-ing environmental impacts on all of Palau’s marineresources including impacts caused by development,poaching, overexploitation and disease.

DMR works tow a rds the conservation of Pa l a u’sm a rine re s o u rces for future generations by re c o m-mending the passage of laws and regulations such asthe ones explained in this booklet.

R e s o u rce developmentDMR staff work to develop fisheries which will ben-

efit Palauan fishermen, coopera t i ves and re l a t e dbusinesses.

DMR sponsors or provides training, gear and sitedevelopment to interested fishermen to ensure theirsuccessful entry in any new fishery.

The Division of Marine Resourc e s

5

Regulated species

4

• advises the community of any regulatory mea-sures and other actions taken towards marineconservation in the Republic;

• maintains a library which is available to the pub-lic and visiting scientists; and

• produces technical reports which are availableto the public at cost.

7

From April 1 to July 31 inclusive, it isagainst the law to buy, sell, or fish for any ofthe following species of groupers:

• m e t e u n g e re l ’temekai (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) ,

• ksau’temekai (Epinephelus polyphekadion),

• tiau (Plectropomus areolatus), • mokas, katuu’tiau (Plectropomus laevis), • tiau (Plectropomus leopardus)

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

Many coral reef fishes, including groupers, aggre-gate in large numbers in specific locations, seasonsand moon phases in order to spawn.

In several places of the Pacific, groupers have beenvirtually eliminated because of intensive fishing ofthese spawning aggregations.

In Palau, spawning aggregations of groupers havebeen observed all year round. To protect them andmake sure the groupers have a chance to reproducein large numbers, it has been decided to fully closethe fishery during the peak spawning aggregationperiod, from April 1 through July 31.

Groupers in Pa l a u, as in many other places inthe worl d, are considered to be amongst the mostfascinating fish in the water. By respecting thesere g u l a t i o n s, we will give a chance to our gra n d c h i l-d ren and the following genera t i o n s, to know whatg roupers are like.

6

Groupers

Meteungerel’temekai (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)

Ksau’temekai(Epinephelus polyphekadion)

Tiau(Plectropomus areolatus)

Katuu’tiau (Plectropomus laevis)

Mokas(Plectropomus laevis)

Tiau(Plectropomus leopardus)

9Rabbitfish (meyas) are herbivorous but they alsooccasionally feed on small invertebrates. They usual-ly swim in schools in coral reef areas and shallowcoastal waters.

The spawning season of rabbitfish in Palau watersis believed to last from the beginning of March to theend of May.

When a fishery is believed to be over-exploited, thefirst and most efficient measure to take is to pro-tect them while they reproduce.

In Palau, fishermen and scientists observed thatthe number of rabbitfish were declining. So it wasdecided to fully close the fishery, every year fromMarch 1 through May 31.

8

Rabbitfish

Meyas (Siganus canaliculatus)

From March 1 to May 31 inclusive, it isagainst the law to buy, sell, or fish for rabbit-fish (meyas, Siganus canaliculatus)

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

1 1The humphead parrotfish (berdebed, kemedukl)

l i ves in coral areas and can occasionally be seen inl a rge schools. It feeds on corals and algae. It is thebiggest of all parrotfishes and some exc e p t i o n a lspecimens have been re p o rted to attain 55 inchesand 165 pounds. It uses its hump to break thec o rals before crunching them with its teeth.

Humphead parrotfish grow slowly and take manyyears to attain adult size. By protecting the yo u n gspecimens of less than 25 inches we increase theirchances of re p roduction before they are capture d.

Pa l a u’s population of humphead parrotfish isre l a t i vely small and fra g i l e. Forbidding the ex p o rt isanother measure taken to protect the re s o u rc eand give a better chance to local consumers,whether they be Palauan people or touri s t s, to havea bite of this delicacy.

1 0

Humphead parro t f i s h

25 inches

Berdebed, kemedukl(Bolbometopon muricatum)

It is against the law to fish, buy, or sell thehumphead parrotfish (berdebed; Bolbometoponmuricatum) of less than 25 inches in length(measured from beak to center end of tail).

It is against the law to export, or to fish for,buy or sell with intent to export any hump-head parrotfish (berdebed, kemedukl; Bolbo -metopon muricatum), whatever the size.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

1 3The Napoleon wrasse (ngimer, maml) is a solitaryfish that lives in the vicinity of coral reefs from shal-low to deeper (20 fathoms) waters. It feeds mostlyon shellfish such as urchins, crustaceans and mol-l u s c s. It can attain 80 inches and more than280 pounds. It is the largest of all wrasses and oneof the biggest of all coral reef fish in the world.

Like the humphead parrotfish, Napoleon wra s s eg row slowly and take many years to attain adults i ze. By protecting the young specimens of lessthan 25 inches we increase their chances of re p ro-duction before they are capture d.

A big Napoleon wra s s e, alive in the wild, is asight that divers from all over the world would liketo encounter. So, as a diving attraction, a liveNapoleon wrasse can bring a lot more money to thePalauan people than if it is caught and sold forfood consumption.

Pa l a u’s ove rall population of Napoleon wra s s eis small and fra g i l e. To protect it furt h e r, ex p o rt isforbidden.

1 2

Napoleon wrasse

It is against the law to fish, buy, or sell aNapoleon wrasse (ngimer; Cheilinus undulatus)of less than 25 inches in length (measured fro mtip of snout to end of tail)

It is against the law to export, or to fish for,buy or sell with intent to export any Napoleonwrasse (ngimer, maml; Cheilinus undulatus),whatever the size.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

Ngimer, maml(Cheilinus undulatus)

25 inches

1 5Aq u a rium species include dozens of fish species

but also anemones, jellyfish, sponges, cru s t a c e a n s,and molluscs.

They are usually the first species encountered bysnorkelers in shallow waters and as such, they areextremely important to the tourist industry of Palau.

Howe ve r, if carefully managed, a sustainablei n d u s t ry based on the collection of aquari u mspecies can be deve l o p e d. To control the number ofpeople entering this fishery, a system of perm i t shas been put in place. At pre s e n t, a maximum oft wenty (20) Aq u a rium Collecting Pe rmits can beissued eve ry ye a r.

All permit owners must submit quart e rly catchre p o rts on their activities to the Division of Ma ri n eRe s o u rc e s, including total numbers of specimens orpieces taken, places where they have been taken,and number of fishermen invo l ve d. All this inform a-tion is used by the Division of Ma rine Re s o u rces tomanage the fishery. Analyzing these data will allowthe Division to evaluate the state of the fishery andto decide whether the number of permits issued canbe increased or decre a s e d.

1 4

Aquarium species are defined in a list pre-p a red by the Marine Resources Division andnamed in the Regulated Marine SpeciesR e g i s t e r.

Any person who takes more than five (5)specimens or pieces of aquarium species in asingle day must have an Aquarium CollectingPermit issued by the Minister or his designee.

Only Palauan citizens can apply for anAquarium Collecting Permit.

No person may export aquarium speciesunless he has an Aquarium Collecting Permitor a Marine Research Permit issued by theMinister or his designee.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1205, 1206 and Regulations on the Collection of

Marine Resources for Aquaria and Research

Aquarium species

1 7

Rock lobsters (cheraprukl) live in narrow reefcrevices. They feed, mostly during the night, on animaland plant debris helping to keep the reef clean.

When released by the females, the rock lobsters’eggs drift in the open ocean while going through thedifferent stages of development. Only a tiny numberof the hundreds of thousands of eggs released sur-vive and are carried back to a reef for shelter.

By setting up a minimum size limit, we protect theyoung lobsters and give them a chance to reproduceseveral times before entering the fishery.

Palau’s population of rock lobsters is relativelysmall and fragile and there is a high demand on thelocal market for this delicacy. So, a ban on export isin place as a complementary protection measure.

It is against the law to fish, sell or buy anyegg-bearing female of rock lobster (chera-prukl) whatever the size.

It is against the law to fish, buy, or sell thefollowing species of rock lobsters (cheraprukl)if less than six (6) inches in total length of thecarapace (measured from the tip of the ros-trum midway between the eyes to the end ofthe carapace):

• bleiached (Panulirus versicolor)• raiklius (Panulirus penicillatus)• melech (Panulirus longiceps femoristriga)It is against the law to export, or to fish for,

buy or sell with intent to export, any rock lob-ster (cheraprukl) of the same three species,whatever the size.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

1 6

Rock lobsters

6 in.

6 in.

6 in.

Bleiached(Panulirus versicolor)

Raiklius(Panulirus penicillatus)

Melech (Panuliruslongipes femoristriga)

1 9Ma n g rove crabs (emang) commonly inhabit mudflats and mangrove fore s t s, favo ring soft muddyb o t t o m s, often below tide leve l s, although femalesc a rrying eggs are present in deeper waters up to30 miles offshore.

The eggs need very favorable conditions to gothrough the larval stages and, as for any other crus-tacean, only a tiny number of the millions of eggs car-ried by the female will become adult crabs. This is whyit is essential to protect the egg-bearing females.

In tropical waters, mangrove crabs are maturewhen they are about 18 months old, which corre-sponds approximately to a carapace width of5 i n c h e s. If we only catch mangrove crabs of morethan 6 inches of carapace width, we make sure thatall the crabs caught have re p roduced at least once.

Ma n g rove crabs are considered a delicacy inPalau both by local people and visiting touri s t s.Since the re s o u rce is scarce it has been decided tog i ve the pre f e rence to the local market and ban allex p o rt of this species.

1 8

Mangrove crab

6 inches

It is against the law to fish, sell or buy anyegg-bearing female of mangrove crab (emang,Scylla serrata) whatever the size.

It is against the law to fish, buy, or sell anymangrove crab (emang) if less than six (6)inches across the shell (carapace).

It is against the law to export, or to fish for,buy or sell with intent to export any mangrovecrab (emang), whatever the size.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

Emang (Scylla serrata)

2 1

Coconut crabs (ketat) are the largest of the landcrabs; they can grow up to a weight of 8 pounds.Adult coconut crabs live almost exclusively on land.However, as most species of crabs, the early stagesof their life are aquatic.

Females carry approximately 100,000 eggs forthree weeks, a time during which they need to leavetheir ‘normal’ habitat to go back towards the shorewhere they look for the right place (high humidity,access to fresh and salt water, abundance of holesand crevices, protection from sun and wind). The eggsare released in the sea where they drift for severalweeks before a very small number of newly formedcrabs crawl back to the shore.

Coconut crabs grow very slowly and have a muchgreater longevity than most other crustaceans asthey can live up to 60 years. This is why they reallyneed to be protected.

Individuals with a carapace narrower than 4 inch-es may be too young to have already reproduced. Theymust be fully protected.

The demand for coconut crab on the local marketalready exceeds the supply. Allowing export would putmore pressure on an already fragile resource. This iswhy it is forbidden.

2 0

Coconut crab

4 in.

Ketat(Birgus latro)

It is against the law to fish, sell or buy anyegg-bearing female of coconut crab (ketat,Birgus latro) whatever the size.

It is against the law to fish, buy, or sell anycoconut crab (ketat) if less than four (4) inch-es across the shell (carapace).

It is against the law to export, or to fish for,buy or sell with intent to export, any coconutcrab (ketat), whatever the size.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

2 3

The green turtle (melob) has long been a favo ri t ePalauan food and the hawksbill (ngasech) has pro-vided important shell products to our people.Because these traditional uses of turtles and theirrole in our cultural heritage are ve ry important theyshould be maintained.

However, fishermen and research biologists inPalau and around the world have noticed a dramaticdecrease in the numbers of sea turtles (uel), whichare also considered in danger of extinction worldwide.We are currently at a point in the history of Palauwhere we are in danger of losing the turtles that wevalue so much. It is therefore essential that the reg-ulations are known to all and respected by all.

Sea turtles come back to the place where theywe re born to lay their eggs. So turtles born in Palau willcome back to Palau even after ve ry long journ eys to fardistant waters. If we keep catching the females whent h ey are on land and taking the eggs from the nestsin the sand we put the future generations of Pa l a u a nt u rtles in great danger of extinction.

We must also respect the minimum size limits putin place to protect the turtles too young to repro-duce and the closed seasons set to protect all theturtles during peaks of the mating and nesting sea-sons (June to August, and December to January).

Al s o, if we avoid the capture of adult females atall times, they can continue to contribute the thou-sands of young needed to replenish our diminishingt u rtle population year after ye a r. So, if you en-counter an adult female (females have a short e rtail than male adults) in the water or on the beach,please let her go in peace. She will re t u rn to Pa l a uyear after year and continue to supply us with tur-tles for generations to come.

2 2

Tu rt l e s34 inches

27 inches

Hawksbill turtle; ngasech(Eretmochelys imbricata)

It is against the law to:• take any female turtle while she is on land,• take turtle eggs at any time,• take any turtle during the months of June,

July, August, December and January,• take, during the open season, green tur-

tles (melob; Chelonia mydas) with a cara-pace length of less than 34 inches,

• take, during the open season, hawksbillturtles (ngasech; Eretmochelys imbricata)with a carapace length of less than27 inches.

Ref. 24 PNCA 1201

Green turtle; melob(Chelonia mydas)

2 5

It is against the law to export, or to fish for,buy, or sell with intent to export, any of thefollowing species of clams (kim), or partthereof, except cultured ones:

• oktang (Tridacna gigas),• ribkunga (Tridacna squamosa),• kism (Tridacna derasa),• melibes (Tridacna maxima),• oruer (Tridacna crocea),• duadeb (Hippopus hippopus), and• duadeb (Hippopus porcellanus).

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

Giant clams are bivalves that feed by filteringseawater and cultivating microscopic algae withintheir tissues. To grow well they need clean seawaterand plenty of sunlight.

Giant clams represent a traditional food sourcefor the people of Palau. They have also been exploitedoccasionally by foreign boats coming from Asia.These two factors have contributed to the decline ofgiant clams in Palauan waters.

To protect them, on one hand, a ban on all exportof wild-caught specimens has been put in place.

On the other hand, culture techniques have beensuccessfully developed at the Mi c ronesian Ma ri-culture and Demonstration Center (MMDC) run byDMR. These techniques have been taught to localpeople and an export market for farmed giant clamshas been established.

2 4

Giant clams

Oktang (Tridacna gigas)

Ribkungal (Tridacna squamosa)

Kism(Tridacna derasa)

Melibes(Tridacna maxima)

Oruer (Tridacna crocea)

Duadeb (Hippopus hippopus)

Duadeb(Hippopus porcellanus)

2 7

Trochus (semum) is mainly harvested for itsvaluable shell used to make buttons for top-qualitys h i rts by the fashion industry in Eu rope and in As i a .It is also appreciated in Palau as a food sourc e.

Because trochus lives in shallow waters andmoves very slowly, it can be easily collected, henceoverfished. This is why, in Palauan waters, this impor-tant commercial species has been protected by dif-ferent regulations for more than eighty years.

Nowadays, the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) can decide,from year to year, to open the fishery for a limitedperiod of time. To make its decision, OEK has accessto the results of scientific surveys of the trochusresource. Even during these open seasons, OEK andthe State Governments can designate certain areasas closed. For more information on the next openseason, check with the nearest DMR office.

Even during open seasons, juveniles (trochus tooyoung to reproduce) must be protected. It is esti-mated that it is only when they attain a size of threeinches (measure taken across the base of the shell)that all trochus are mature. They are then approxi-mately three years old.

Because trochus shells can be stored for anextended period of time, they constitute one of therare cash-income opportunities for fishing communi-ties living in places where transport is scarce.

If we respect the closed seasons and leave theyoung trochus in peace, we will give this fra g i l ere s o u rce a chance to last for future genera t i o n s,continuing to bring a cash income to remote fish-ing communities.

2 6

Tro c h u s

3 inches

Semum(Trochus niloticus)

Except during open seasons that are designat-ed from year to year by the Olbiil Era Kelulauand subject to further restrictions by each of theState Governments, the harvesting of tro c h u s(semum, Trochus niloticus) is pro h i b i t e d .

During open seasons, only trochus (semum)of more than three (3) inches in diameter at thebase can be harvested.

Even during open seasons, certain areas canbe declared closed by either the National or theStates Governments.

Ref. 24 PNCA 1243

2 9

Blacklip pearl oyster (chesiuch) can be founddown to 25 fathoms depth, but is naturally mostabundant just below low-tide level. To feed they filterthe seawater. Their growth is related to the quality ofthe seawater in which they live.

Blacklip pearl oysters are generally mature whenthey reach two years of age (or approximately a shellwidth of 4 inches). Spawning can happen severaltimes a year depending on the water temperature,but mainly occurs during the second part of the year(from August to December inclusive).

In ancient times, blacklip pearl oysters were fishedfor their shells, used in jewellery and for fishing lures.The occasional pearl found by fishermen was the‘cherry on the cake’.

Nowadays blacklip pearl oysters are cultured forblack pearls in several places of the Pacific with greatsuccess. To be able to start the same kind of indus-try in Palau, we need a natural stock in good shape toprovide seed oysters.

Like any other marine organism, the presence ofpearl oysters in our waters is essential. Pearl oystersof small value today could become treasures when aPalauan pearl-farming industry starts.

If we respect the minimum size and the closedseason, we increase the chances for the pearl oys-ters to reproduce in good conditions.

2 8

Blacklip pearl oyster

4 inches

No blacklip pearl oyster (chesiuch, Pinctadamargaritifera) with a shell width of less thanfour (4) inches can be harvested at any time.

No blacklip pearl oyster of any size can beharvested during the months of August toDecember inclusive.

Ref. 24 PNCA 1221

Chesiuch (Pinctada margaritifera)

3 1

Sea cucumbers of Palau are mostly found insandy or muddy bottoms. Like all sea cucumbers,they have separate sexes and reproduction occurswhen males and females release their gametes simul-taneously in surrounding seawater, so it takes manysea cucumbers gathering in the same place for thereproduction to be successful.

Sea cucumbers are important to the lagoon envi-ronment because they scavenge on the reef and turnover the sand on the lagoon floor, preventing thebuild-up of decaying organic matter and releasingnutrients that would otherwise be locked up underlayers of sediment.

Sea cucumbers are a very easy target for fisher-men and their over-exploitation might have severeconsequences for the whole reef.

As they are a traditional food source for the peo-ple of Palau, it has been decided to limit theirexploitation by putting a ban on all exports.

It is against the law to export, or to fish for,buy, or sell with intent to export, any of the fol-lowing species of sea cucumbers:

• bakelungal chedelkelek (Holothuria nobilis),• bakelungal cherou (Holothuria fuscogilva),• molech (Holothuria scabra),• badelchelid (Actinopyga mauritiana),• eremrum (Actinopyga miliaris), and• temetamel (Thelenota ananas).

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

3 0

Sea cucumbers

Bakelungal chedelkelek(Holothuria nobilis)

Bakelungal cherou(Holothuria fuscogilva)

Molech (Holothuria scabra)

Badelchelid(Actinopyga mauritiana)

Eremrum (Actinopyga miliaris)

Temetamel(Thelenota ananas)

3 3All dugongs (mesekiu) breathe air, feed their

young milk and eat only sea grass. An adult dugongcan reach a length of 11 feet and weigh over 1,500pounds. They can live to be over 70 years old.

Pa l a u’s population of dugongs is the most isolatedin the worl d. This means that dugongs from otherp a rts of the world cannot come and help incre a s ePa l a u’s shrinking population (scientists estimate thatonly 50 to 200 dugongs are left in Palauan waters,c o m p a red with the 2,000 that used to live here ) .

A female dugong does not mate until she is atleast 10 years old. On average she has a baby, calleda calf, only once every 5 years. This very slow repro-ductive rate is the reason it will take the Palau popu-lation a long time to recover from being over-hunted.

However, in a few years, if this protection measureis successful, dugongs could become a big source ofincome for Palauans interested in taking tourists outfor an evening Rock Island cruise and the opportuni-ty to see dugongs alive in the wild.

A live dugong could one day be worth very muchmore than a dead dugong . . .

It is against the law to kill, or possessdugongs (mesekiu, Dugong dugon).

Ref. 24 PNCA 1231

3 2

Dugongs

Mesekiu(Dugong dugon)

3 5

Sponges contribute in important ways to theecology of the reef. This living animal has a thin skinwith thousands of invisible tiny holes. As water pass-es through these holes, the sponge filters out andconsumes microscopic particles that might other-wise cloud the reef. Sponges also provide the perfecthome for tiny fish, crabs and flatworms.

Hard corals are formed by tiny sea animals calledpolyps. Coral polyps extend their tentacles into sur-rounding waters and feed on microscopic plants andanimals. Producing hard outer limestone skeletonsover years and years, some of the hard corals formthe very foundation of the reef. Coral reefs are essen-tial to Palau for many reasons:

• They protect coastlines and coastal villagesfrom large ocean waves made by storms andcyclones.

• They create a place where crabs, lobsters,clams and reef fish can live and provide foodfor nearby villages and towns.

• Coral skeletons over time will break down torubble and sand which helps build up shore-lines and beaches.

• Undamaged coral reefs attract tourists, thusproviding a growing source of income to manylocal people.

Ma rine rock, or ‘l i ve’ rock, is a coral debris onwhich new life (soft cora l s, algaes, anemones, etc. )s e t t l e s. It often provides a home for ve ry smallf o rms of marine life (cra b s, worm s, fish, etc. ) .

For all these reasons, sponges, hard corals andmarine rock need protection. This is why a ban onexport has been put in place.

3 4

Sponges, h a rd corals & marine ro c k

No sponges (any species of the phylumPorifera) may be exported.

No hard corals from the orders Scleractinia(stony corals), Hydrocorallina (fire corals),Coenothecalia (blue corals) and Stolonifera(organ pipe corals) may be exported.

No marine rock (any carbonated-based rock)may be exported.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1205, 1206 and Regulations onthe Collection of Marine Resources

for Aquaria and Research

3 7

Other re s t r i c t i o n s

3 9It is against the law to use any explosives,

poisons or chemicals to catch marine life.

Ref. 24 PNCA 1302

Except as authorized by regulation or per-mit issued by the Minister, it is against thelaw to fish while using any form of underw a-ter breathing apparatus other than snorkel.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

When using explosives, poisons or chemicals tocatch fish, poachers also destroy all the surroundingmarine life, including smaller fishes, reef invertebratesand, most important, the corals themselves. It maytake many years for this marine life to recover andcreate the right conditions for the big fish to comeback. Furthermore, dead corals and the lack of bigfish will make the place unsuitable for the develop-ment of a tourist diving industry.

By putting a ban on scuba, hookah or any otherunderwater breathing equipment except a snorkel, wecreate a natural reserve area in deeper waters wheremarine life—especially the larger reef fish that canproduce more eggs—is protected.

3 8

Gear re s t r i c t i o n s

It is against the law to fish with a gillnet,surround net or kesokes net having a meshsize of less than three (3) inches measureddiagonally.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1204

If we use nets with small meshes, we will kill manyyoung fish before they have time to reproduce. Theseyoung fish are small so they don’t have much value onthe market anyway.

4 1

Marine re s e a rc h

All person engaging in any marine-re s o u rc e - related re s e a rch, including scientif-ic, maricultural or medical re s e a rch musthave a valid Marine Research Permit issuedby the Minister or his designee.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1205, 1206and Regulations on the Collection of

Marine Resources for Aquaria and Research

Following the same principle applied for aquariumspecies, in order to monitor and encourage appropri-ate mari n e - related re s e a rch, a Ma rine Re s e a rc hPermit system has been put in place. To engage in anymarine-resource-related research, such as scientific,maricultural or medical research, one needs to applyfor a Marine Research Permit and comply with anyother applicable national or state law or regulation.

All permit owners must submit quarterly catchreports on their activities to DMR, including totalnumbers of specimens or pieces of each speciestaken, places where they have been taken, number offishermen involved, etc.

Permit holders wishing to export specimens mustcomply with the ‘Regulations on the Reporting andLabeling of Exports of Marine Resources’.

4 0

E x p o rting marine re s o u rc e s

Prior to any export of marine resources outof the Republic of Palau, the person exportingshall complete and sign 4 copies of a MarineExport Declaration.

Ref. 27 PNCA 1206, 1207 and Regulations on the Reporting and

Labelling of Exports of Marine Resources

For each export out of the country, the personex p o rting shall provide all applicable inform a t i o nrequested on the Marine Export Declaration form,including, but not limited to, the following:

For each species:• the names (scientific, Palauan and/or English

common names),• the net weight (without ice or packing), and• the country of origin.For the export as a whole:• the destination,• the total gross weight, and• the number of containers.Exports may be inspected by authorized person-

nel of the Bureau of Revenue, Customs and Taxationor of the Ministry of Resources and Development.

Any person who exports any fish or other marineresources for commercial purposes shall submit toDMR a re p o rt on the catch of those mari n eresources, as well as of any other marine resourcestaken during the course of fishing for the marineresources being exported. This report shall include allinformation concerning the catch (including totalnumbers of specimens or pieces taken, places wherethey have been taken, number of fishermen involved,gear used, etc.).

4 34 2

4 54 4

4 74 6

4 8

D M R c o n t a c t

For more information about these regulations orany other topic related to marine resources of Palau,please contact the:

Division of Marine ResourcesBureau of Natural Resources and Development

P.O. Box 117Koror, 96940

Republic of Palau

Phone: +680 4883125Fax: +680 4881725 or 4881475