Passport to Palau: Shark Sanctuary

"The strength and beauty of sharks are a natural barometer for the health of our oceans."
- Palau President Johnson Toribiong

On September 25, 2009, Palau President Johnson Toribiong announced to the United Nations that Palau's territorial waters and extended economic zone (EEZ) were to be recognized as the first official sanctuary for its 135 species of Pacific sharks and rays considered endangered or vulnerable. Because sharks do not reach sexually maturity until after several years of life and have low fertility rates in comparison to other harvested fish, sharks are vulnerable to overfishing. Thanks to the creation of its shark sanctuary, Palau forbids all commercial shark fishing within its EEZ waters which are approximately 230,000 sq mi (about the size of France).

With the assistance of Green Peace, a Palauan patrol boat escorts an illegal fishing vessel from its waters.

In a news article written in 2009, Toribiong said a recent flyover by Australian aircraft showed more than 70 vessels fishing Palau's waters, many of them illegally. "We'll do the very best we can, given our resources," he said. "The purpose of this is to call attention to the world to the killing of sharks for commercial purposes, including to get the fins to make shark fin soups, and then they throw the bodies in the water."

Creation of this shark sanctuary was a matter of self-preservation for Palau as well as an understanding of our oceans. Sharks play a significant role in keeping a coral reef system healthy by means of balanced population control. A large amount of tourists come year after year to dive the spectacular reefs of Palau. Not caring for its precious marine life resource would lead to a drop in tourism and a sharp decline in Palau's economy. Along with creating the shark sanctuary, Palau banned the practice of bottom trawling where fishing boats used giant nets to drag along the bottom of the ocean, generally leading to the destruction of everything in the net's path.

Thanks in large part to the creation of Palau's shark sanctuary and other conservation efforts, today it is easy to enjoy viewing sharks while diving in the crystal clear turquoise waters of this Pacific island nation. Remember to take a moment to breathe in the beauty of its reefs while being awed at the spectacular array of marine life during your dive.