UN General Assembly
2011

Palau’s fish are among the most valuable in the world, but they are in danger. Distant water boats do not respect our borders, laws or traditions. These boats come in great numbers for tuna in the Western and Central Pacific region, where Palau is located. At present, our region’s tuna is being taken for pennies on the dollar. These boats also hunt, fin and sell sharks for a tiny fraction of what tourists will pay to see those sharks alive in our waters. Like the ocean’s currents, efforts to protect the marine environment must flow across boundary lines. It takes international cooperation to protect our marine resources and environment. Palau and other Pacific small island developing States have undertaken innovative measures to ensure the continued viability of our stocks. We have limited purse seine fishing, agreed to close the “donut holes” between our jurisdictions and implemented a Vessel Day Scheme. 27 11-50871 Two years ago, from this very rostrum, I announced the creation of the world’s first shark sanctuary. Since that time, countries and territories