Palau is to create the world’s first “shark sanctuary”, banning all commercial shark fishing in its waters. That means that it is creating a 600,000 sq km safe zone for the protection of 130 threatened species of shark that frequent their waters. To give you an idea what this area means;
Singapore
Area: total: 692.7 sq km
land: 682.7 sq km – Can you imagine what Singapore would do with a space 1000 times bigger than our current land!
water: 10 sq km
Thailand: 514,000 sq km
Peninsular Malaysia: 131,500 sq km
World water area: 61,000,000 sq km
That is a big area! For those of you who can imagine, it is like
Thailand + Peninsular Malaysia
The President of Palau is a pretty spunky fellow. Here is a quote from the BBC article that I really like.
President Toribiong on sharks: “And we feel that the need to protect the sharks outweighs the need to enjoy a bowl of soup.”
Asked what he would be urging other leaders to do, he said simply: “To follow suit.”
I really hope he means it because according to BBC, Palau only has one patrol boat for to monitor their waters. How are they going to enforce the ban? Maybe they can use that Guantanamo Money to buy more patrol boats, radars etc.
Four Afterthoughts
1. 100 million sharks are killed each year around the world.
100 million sharks are killed each year around the world.
100 million sharks are killed each year around the world.
100 million sharks are killed each year around the world.
100 million sharks are killed each year around the world.
2. 600,000 sq km is less than 1% of the world water area.
I wonder what area is actually safe for sharks to roam.
3. Why does it always the small developing countries that make moves like this first (Maldives, Palau)?
Sure, they are dependent on tourism, and yes, they are out there in the ocean, in direct contact with the sharks. But they could have also easily just given in to the huge Asian demand like other countries. They could have easily turned a blind eye as we do.
What is Singapore doing? What is the diving community doing? What is Gill doing? What am I doing? We all know what is happening, how many people actually have the courage to boycott our friends’ weddings if they serve Sharks Fin. How many of us boycott places that serve Sharksfin. I do. I confess, I let it slide when hungry staff/friends orderd from Macpherson for themselves and for me. (They have sharks fin on their menu and are 1 or 2 places that actually deliver to Gill). But no more, I will not slip again.
4. Palau
This has strengthened my resolve to visit this country. The Blue Hole and Blue Corner. The jellyfish lake. Dear Palau, I will visit you next year! For like-minded folk, email me at [email protected]! I’m looking for buddies.
Wow, 600,000 sq km is indeed a massive area! I hope Palau can effectively enforce this ban and protect the shark species. It’s impressive that their President, Johnson Toribiong, is taking a strong stance on this issue.
Hi Yasmin Wong, thank you for sharing your thoughts on Palau’s efforts to create a shark sanctuary! It’s indeed impressive that the President is taking a strong stance on this issue. At Gill Divers, we’re also passionate about marine conservation and appreciate Palau’s commitment to protecting these magnificent creatures. We hope their efforts will inspire other countries to follow suit. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our diving experiences in Palau, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Tel: +65 6734 9373, Email: [email protected]. We’re always here to help!.
This is amazing news! Palau is taking a bold stand against commercial shark fishing. I hope they can also address the issue of shark finning and work with other countries to protect these incredible creatures.
Hi Astrid, thank you for sharing your thoughts on Palau’s bold move to create the world’s first ‘shark sanctuary’! We at Gill Divers are thrilled to hear about this initiative and agree that it’s a significant step towards protecting these incredible creatures. It’s indeed crucial to address shark finning as well, and we hope Palau will lead the way in this effort. Thank you for being an advocate for marine conservation! If you’re interested in learning more or even joining us on a dive trip to Palau, feel free to reach out to us at +65 6734 9373 or [email protected].
I’m all for conservation efforts! Palau setting up the world’s first shark sanctuary is a huge step forward. I hope other countries will follow suit and prioritize marine conservation.
Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for marine conservation, Kavya! We at Gill Divers are proud to support Palau’s efforts in creating the world’s first shark sanctuary. It’s indeed a huge step forward for protecting these magnificent creatures. We hope that other countries will follow suit and prioritize marine conservation as well. As President Toribiong said, ‘To follow suit’ is the key! At Gill Divers, we believe that every small action counts, and we’re committed to making a positive impact on our ocean’s ecosystem. If you’re passionate about diving and conservation like us, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or give us a call at +65 6734 9373. We’d be happy to chat with you!