Palau announces plans to create huge marine reserve, banning all commercial fishing.
Hats off to Palau, who have announced plans to ban commercial fishing and create a huge marine reserve.
Covering an area almost the size of France, the plan would create one of the world's largest marine reserves.
In 2009, Palau was the first country to create a shark sanctuary in their waters, a move that was followed by the likes of the Maldives, Bahamas, Indonesia's Raja Ampat and more.
Palau continues to lead the way in marine conservation and the hope is that more countries will follow this lead.
This small Pacific island nation has long recognised that their prosperity and happiness is tied to the ocean, so much so that this concept to conserve a beautiful, healthful, and resourceful natural environment is enshrined in law.
It is this approach that has ensured Palau's place as one of the world's finest diving hotspots, one of the last great places on earth, according to National Geographic.
“Reckless and destructive fishing practices, overfishing, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing have robbed us of our resources. They must be stopped.” said Palau president Tommy Remengesau Jr.
We fully support this move and encourage other nations to follow suit.
