Authorities in Palau are cracking down on illegal fishing from Vietnamese “Blue Boats” – after packing 77 crewmembers aboard two unburned boats and sending them homeward earlier this month, the authorities torched the other four unauthorized vessels that were busted trolling for sea cucumber and reef fish in Palau-protected waters.
The boat burning sends a clear message to potential pirate fishers, according to Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr.
“We will not tolerate poachers in our ocean,” said Remengesau. “Palau is working with our military, diplomacy, and NGO partners from around the world to get tough on illegal fishers and protect our food security.”
Pirate fishing has been plaguing Palau at an increasing rate as of late, with 15 Blue Boats from Vietnam carrying upwards of 25 metric tons of area’s marine species being captured since 2014. “Illegal fishing is a major threat to Palau, given its location as a critical gateway to the Pacific,” explained Seth Horstmeyer of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Global Ocean Legacy program. Globally, illegal fishers are estimated to steal nearly 108,000 pounds of fish from the ocean every minute, according to data from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
But as the Palau National Marine Sanctuary makes its way into law, authorities are confident that the ease with which they can detect, deter and interdict poachers will be exponentially enhanced. All pirates and poachers looking to exploit the area for gains on the black market will be met with Palau’s no-tolerance policy, which entails prosecution for captains of unauthorized vessels and the swift combustion of the offending schooner[s].
“Palau is simply no longer an option when it comes to poaching. This message goes to the captain and crews of these vessels. Palau guarantees, you will return with nothing. Captains will be prosecuted and jailed. Boats will be burned. Nothing will be gained from poaching in Palau. From one fisherman to another, respect Palau,” concluded Remengesau.
The Palau Office of the President joined forces with The Pew Charitable Trusts and Scripps Institution of Oceanography just last month to help establish a comprehensive endorsement plan for Palau; the three-day planning event included maritime surveillance experts from the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.
Photo credit: Olkeriil Kazuo
