GEF II PROJECT:
NATIONAL PROJECT PREPARATION REPORTS
PALAU
Foreword
This brief report was prepared by Dr. Tony Lewis during a visit to Koror, Palau from 1st to 6th
July 2004. It aims to assemble information relating to Palau necessary for the preparation of
the GEF SAP II Project.

The main aims of the report are:
· To make an assessment of the implications of the WCPF Convention for Palau
· To identify possible interventions to support implementation by Palau of the WCPF
Convention
· To make an analysis of the incremental costs to Palau of activities related to the
Convention
· To undertake an analysis of stakeholders in Palau with interests in the regional
oceanic fisheries resources
· To identify relevant consultative mechanisms in Palau for the GEF SAP II Project
· To collect information relating to available indicators of performance in areas related
to the WCPF Convention and to the financial sustainability of Palau's participation in
the Commission and implementation of the WCPF Convention

The report is based on available published information and information provided in the
consultations with stakeholders listed in Annex 3.
1.
Background
1.1
Status of Oceanic Fisheries
The Palau EEZ is relatively small (630,000 km2), bordering those of Indonesia, Philippines
and FSM to the south, west and east, with high seas areas to the north and south-east (the
Palau-FSM-PNG corridor).
The tuna fishery primarily involves the activities of locally-based longline fleets (Chinese and
Taiwanese vessels) and Japanese vessels (offshore longliners, purse seiners and pole-and-
liners) licensed under access agreements. Landings by the locally-based longline fleet appear
to be less than 2,000t in recent years but may be under-reported. Activity by the Japanese
offshore longline vessels has been intermittent (catch of several `00t p.a.); very little purse
seine activity has occurred in the Palau EEZ in recent years (though 2,000t was taken in
2003), and no pole-and -line fishing. There has been little or no fishing by USMLT or FSM
Arrangement p/s vessels in recent years. A domestic pole-and-line fleet operated in the past
(until 1982), taking up to 10,000t p.a. for shipment to PagoPago, but only a single small pole-
and-line vessel continues to operate, supplying local markets.
It seems probable that the productivity of Palau's fisheries has been impacted by the very
large and still expanding tuna fisheries of Indonesia and Philippines, where close to 30% of
the region's tuna catch is taken by vessels of those countries.
Subsistence and small scale fishing for oceanic species, based mainly on trolling and FADs,
remains important for food security and tourism. There is also a well developed tourism-
based sport fishery targeting a range of inshore and oceanic pelagic fish operating from
Koror.

1.2
Oceanic Fisheries Management
Palau developed a National Tuna Fishery Management Plan (NTFMP), with the assistance
of regional agencies under the CSPODP II project in 1999, which was ratified in 2002.

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The major objectives of tuna management and development policy set out in the NTFMP,
under the overall intent of deriving greater benefits for all Palauans from Palau's tuna
resources, are to:
· Conserve fishery resources by controlling harvesting within internationally and
regional recognized sustainable limits
· Establish an efficient Government framework to harmonize the application of
fisheries management policies and practices
· Minimize detrimental impacts of fishing on coastal and onshore environment
· Attain an optimal balance in relation to access to the resource between all
stakeholders
· Enhance the overall economic balance between the necessity for Government to
generate revenue, financial expectations of the commercial tuna fishery interests, and
the interests of other users of the resource
· Promote Palauans in professional, administrative, research and development
positions in the fishery and related industries and Government agencies
· Adherence by Palau to regional and international marine resources agreements
The Plan has yet to be fully implemented - there are no management measures in force
involving target tuna species, and no major controls have been instituted that significantly
limit effort or catch. Management measures have, however, been introduced in 2003 with
respect to by-catch in the tuna longline fishery (prohibition from taking sharks, reef fish,
turtles, rays, and marine mammals, and prohibition from using steel leaders), and closed areas
applied to prohibit foreign fishing vessels from fishing within a 24 mile contiguous zone and
a 50 nautical mile radius to the east of the reef entrance to Malakal Harbor. A tax on by-catch
landings in Palau by the longline fleet of 25 cents per kg has also been imposed.
1.3
Oceanic Fisheries Institutional Arrangements
The Bureau of Oceanic Fishery Management (BOFM) within the Ministry of Resources and
Development, established by OEK in accordance with Republic of Palau Public Laws (RPPL)
5-7 and 5-8, is the primary agency responsible for oceanic fisheries management. "Being one
of the very few FFA member countries with a separate government agency devoted
specifically to management of pelagic fisheries resources, Palau is in the unique position of
being able to focus the efforts of an entire department on management of the resources within
its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone".
Whilst oceanic fisheries management is seen as a very high priority for Palau, this is not
reflected in the support provided to BOFM. The Bureau has an establishment of 28 posts, of
which just 8 are filled (of which four are port samplers), and an annual operating budget for
2003/2004 of US$122,000.
Executive Order No. 204 in 2001 established the Palau Fisheries Advisory Committee
(PFAC) to make recommendations to the Minister of Resources and Development and to the
President regarding national fisheries policies and the implementation of recommendations
made in the National Tuna Fishery Management Plan. PFAC membership includes the
Minister of Resources and Development, the Minister of State, the Minister of Justice, the
Director of the Bureau of Marine Resources, and one member appointed by the President
from the private fisheries sector. Under this order, the PFAC is thus the main consultative
body relating to fisheries management matters and policy, with the following functions:

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The formulation and coordination of national fisheries policies and programs for the
conservation, management and sustainable utilization of tuna resources within the Republic
of Palau's EEZ, the implementation of the NTFMP, the implementation and enforcement of
oceanic fisheries polices, laws, rules and regulations, negotiations with domestic and foreign
fishing companies seeking to fish within Palau's EEZ, and the issuance of fishing licenses and
permits ,negotiations with other potential stakeholders interested in the development of
offshore fisheries, and, in cooperation with the Minister of Justice, the coordination of
maritime surveillance and enforcement of applicable fisheries laws, rules and regulations.
Nett revenue from oceanic fisheries in Palau is estimated to be around $4 million per year,
with the tuna fishery having an overall value of $14 million in recent years (McCoy and
Tamate, MS). These figures do not include the value of artisanal and sport fisheries to Palau,
which may increase the overall value to close to US$20 million. This has been much higher
in earlier years.
Other government organisation with a significant role in oceanic fisheries management are :
· Justice (Attorney Generals' Office and the Division of Marine Law Enforcement)
· Ministry of State (Bureau of International Trade and Technical Assistance)
· The Office of Environmental Regulation Committee (OERC) in the President's
Office, and the Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB).
There is no mechanism for broad consultation with all stakeholders at present (see later),
other than the PFAC which although powerful, is essentially Government-driven. There is a
clear need to develop such a more inclusive consultative mechanism, involving other relevant
Government Ministries/Divisions, the private sector, ENGOs, and communities.
Donor Involvement
There is no other significant donor involvement in oceanic fisheries management besides
RAN support in the form of Maritime Surveillance Advisors for the patrol boat program.
1.4
Other Oceanic Fisheries Management Issues
Other oceanic fisheries management issues that arose in the mission to Palau include:

·
IUU fishing in-zone and in adjacent high seas - given its contiguity to the very large
and not fully regulated fisheries of Indonesia and Philippines, levels of IUU fishing in the
Palau EEZ are believed to be high, on the basis of regular sightings and apprehensions. IUU
fishing in adjacent high seas are also probably high.
·
Delineation of maritime zones - Palau has formally declared its EEZ, but still needs
to delineate most of its EEZ boundaries, involving FSM, Indonesia and Philippines ­ this will
involve boundary agreements with these three neighbouring states.
2.
Palau and the WCPF Convention
2.1
Overview
With a tuna industry based on foreign access and locally-based foreign longlining, Palau's
primary aims in the MHLC and Prep Con process have been:

i)
to ensure the application of measures to ensure the sustainability of the region's tuna
stocks and fisheries. Key elements of this for Palau have been:
· ensuring the long term sustainability of the longline fishery targeting albacore,
but with important catches of bigeye and yellowfin; and
· implementing controls on the impact of purse seine fishing on juvenile bigeye
and yellowfin because of the effects this could have on catches by Palau's
longline fleet.

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ii)
to ensure that Palau secures at least a fair share of access to the region's tuna
resources.
Palau has yet to ratify either the UNFSA or the WCPF Convention, and has legitimate
concerns of a small state about being able to meet necessary obligations under the
Convention, along with the many other international Conventions that it is already a
signatory to.

Major implications for Palau with the entry into force of the Convention are seen as follows:
i)
institutional strengthening - development of human resources to address and
administer obligations under the Convention and the Commission
ii)
financial capacity to meet such obligations, including meeting costs of full and
effective participation in the Commission, and
iii)
legislative revisions, to ensure compatibility with the Convention and UNFSA
iv)
strengthened arrangements for management of fishing in Palau waters, particularly to
address IUU fishing;
v)
broader participation in the processes related to the Commission, including
involvement of non-government interests, especially the fishing industry and NGOs.

Palau has made limited progress towards developing the capacity to implement its
obligations under the Convention, and has few plans in place to complete this process.

2.2
Implications of the Convention
2.2.1
Legal
Palau has yet to ratify either the UNFSA or the Convention. RPPL 6-36 of 2003 attempted,
inter alia, to harmonize the scope of the Republic's maritime jurisdiction with the provisions
of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but assistance is needed
to ascertain whether the existing legislation is compatible with these more recent instruments
(UNFSA and the Convention).
Title 27 of the Palau National Code is the primary legal instrument relating to fisheries, and
Title ... of the Code governs environmental activities. These are supplemented by Executive
Orders and RP Public Laws, promulgated by the president and OEK respectively, and
establishing subsidiary regulations or revisions.
There are several environmental NGOs active in the general fisheries area, including the
Palau Conservation Society (PCS), and the Nature Conservancy (TNC). The Palau
Fishermen's Association appears no longer to be active.
The table below summarises the status of Palau's adoption of relevant international legal
instruments and declarations.
Instrument
Status
WCPF Convention
Not ratified
UN Fish Stocks Agreement
Not ratified
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
Ratified (1996)
FAO Code of Conduct
Principles accepted, but not included in new
legislation
WSSD fisheries targets
Not formally adopted
Convention on Biological Diversity
Acceded
FAO Compliance Agreement
Accepted (check??)

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FAO International Plans of Action
Not implemented
FFA Minimum Terms & Conditions
Implemented
Driftnet Convention
Ratified

Palau has good legal capacity in the Attorney General's Office within the Ministry of Justice
with growing experience in OFM issues, but office is probably overloaded and understaffed.
Palau needs to ascertain, as noted, whether the existing legislation (Title 27 of the Code) is
compatible with the Convention and UNFSA. Palau had had good success in pursuing
prosecutions against fisheries violations, but will need assistance to build capacity n this area.
2.2.2
Policy/Institutional
The Palau fisheries administration has recently been restructured, to abolish the Palau
Maritime Authority and transfer certain functions to the Bureau of Natural Resources. The
BOFM, subsequently established by the OEK, is under-resourced and under-financed.
The PFAC has also recently been established, consistent with recommendations in the
NTFMP. Policy is primarily determined by the Minister of Resources and Development, on
recommendation of the PFAC, although the President and the OEK may intervene directly on
some issues.
The Palau RTFMP, one of the first such Plans in the region, has yet to be implemented,
despite being completed in 1999, and being ratified in 2002. This is seen as urgent if Palau is
to seriously address the oceanic fishery management issues associated with the Convention.
Palau is presently not well placed to implement the WCPF Convention and decisions of the
WCPF Commission, and to continue to develop and benefit from its oceanic fisheries. There
is an urgent need for capacity building in fisheries management and policy making,
particularly in areas related to the work of the WCPF Commission to ensure that Palau
participates effectively in the work of the Commission, including being able to ensure that
Palau's interests are taken into account in this work; and to build support among stakeholders
for the effective implementation of decisions of the Commission.
There is felt to be an urgent need for institutional strengthening to enable Palau to fully
discharge all obligations under the Convention
· Strengthening of monitoring programmes, and compliance, statistics, law and science
(resource assessment) programmes
· establishment of a National Consultative Committee,
· possible support for the strengthening of private sector stakeholder institutions
The cost of financial contributions for Palau to the WCPF Commission is expected to be in
the range of US$10,000 per year once the Commission is fully established.
2.2.3
Compliance
In line with the need for overall institutional strengthening of the BOFM and other
Departments, little progress has been made in strengthening compliance activities, including:
· There is no National MCS Committee which would seek to improve coordination of
MCS activities between BOFM and other agencies, notably the Law Enforcement
Division (LED), Customs, Transport and Communication, and Immigration.
· The FFA regional VMS, hosted by the LED, appears to be utilized at less than full
capacity, given restrictions on the number of trained staff available
· On the other hand, procedures for licensing appear to be working well, with an accessible
operational licensing database housed at BOFM

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· Good VMS Regulations have been in place, pursuant to Title 27, since 2000.

Palau has some capacity to enforce its fisheries laws, using one patrol vessel, the President
H.I. Remeliik, (provided in 1996 and supported through the Australian Pacific Island Patrol
Boat Programme) but is underfinanced in the operational sense. The suspected very high
incidence of IUU fishing within the zone and probably also in adjacent high seas areas is
currently largely unchecked. In the case of smaller Indonesian and Philippines vessels, it is
often seen as not worth the trouble of apprehension and return of confiscated vessels to Koror.
The compliance activities have already been successful in apprehending several larger foreign
(Philippine) vessels involved in illegal fishing, most recently in May 2004.
Surveillance is also assisted by occasional surveillance flights by Australia and New Zealand.
There are no inspection programmes in place for landings in Palau, although there is
extensive port sampling (see later) and Customs and MLED cooperate in in-port vessel
inspections and clearances.
Flag State Responsibilities
Palau currently has no flag vessels fishing outside Palau waters, and only a handful in its own
waters. The Maritime Safety Branch within the Division of Transport and Communication,
Ministry of Trade and Commerce, operates the register of vessels and would assume this
responsibility should it be needed in the future.
Monitoring
Palau has maintained monitoring programmes for some years, with assistance from SPC/OFP
(including assistance under the current GEF IW Project), and from FFA. These include:
· Vessel characteristics: BOFM operates a licensing database that contains required
information on vessel characteristics.
· Logsheets: the level of logsheet coverage of the locally-based longline fleet is considered
to be high (approaching 100%), whilst the coverage of the Japanese longline fleet is also
considered high.
· Port sampling: there is a well established port sampling programme in Palau, with a high
level of coverage (close to 100%) of tuna landings by the locally-based longline fleet.
Japanese access vessels land in home ports and are not sampled.
· Landings: Unloadings data are collected via the port sampling programme, and are
routinely compared with the tuna export data. Individual weight data for air-freighted
yellowfin and bigeye tuna are routinely collected.
· Observers: Palau currently has no regular observer programme in place, although two
port samplers are nominally classed as observers, and at least three other observers
trained in regional programmes are available. Some trips on locally-based foreign vessels
have been undertaken. There is interest in re-establishing an observer programme. It
would not be viable for Palau to establish its own training programmes for the small
numbers involved, and Palau sees itself continuing to rely on the regional organisations
for this function.
2.2.4
Scientific Analysis
Palau recognizes that national capacity for scientific analysis on oceanic fisheries is currently
limited and its development is an important priority. Palau will continue to rely on SPC for
stock assessment analysis and related advice ­ support in this area from SPC has been strong.
Palau also wants to develop its own capacity to interpret and apply the regional results, but
lacks trained manpower and the necessary positions filled within its establishment.

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There is a national catch and effort database operated by BOFM. Some analyses of these data
are carried and annual summaries sent to SPC/OFP, but some assistance may be needed to
produce the verified estimates of annual catch by species, gear and fleet for Palauan waters
expected to be required to meet the data standards established by the Commission.
Oceanographic influences on Palau fisheries may not be as significant as on other countries,
but gauging impacts of the very large neighbouring fisheries of Indonesia and the Philippines
is a critical issue.
3.
Potential Contribution of SAP II Project
There is a strong need in Palau for in-country assistance from the GEF SAP II Project, as well
as continuing support from the FFA and SPC regional programmes in law, economics,
science and compliance. The specific areas in which assistance would be needed from the
GEF SAP II Project are summarized below.

Activity
Incremental Actions
Possible Assistance
Legal


Revise Legal framework
Revise Title and Regs
Legal review
Enhance oceanic
Provide training for legal officers
Attachments, regional workshops etc
fisheries-related law
Prosecution Workshop
capacity
Support Commission
Provide legal advice
Regional Legal Workshops
participation
Implement Commission
Provide legal advice, change
Legal advice at national and regional
decisions
regulations, licences
level
Policy


Participate in regional
Commission financial
Regional Fisheries Management
policy formulation
contributions
Training/Consultations
Commission meeting participation
Attachments

Establish National Consultative

Mechanism
Compliance


Increase IUU deterrence
Improve effectiveness of patrol,
Establish National MCS Committee
in-zone
inspection, investigation,
Regional MCS Working Group
prosecution
participation
In-country and regional Inspection,
VMS staff training
Monitoring


Improve at-sea data
Expand Observer programme
Ongoing in-country and regional


training of port samplers by SPC and
observers by FFA/SPC; technical
support
Science


Improve national
Strengthen statistical capacity
Statistical support from SPC
statistical info.
Provide catch/effort
estimates to the
Commission
Improve
understanding Strengthen national capacity to Ongoing support from SPC
of oceanic resources and analyse national data
Training for national scientific staff
ecosystem
Strengthen national capacity to to interpret stock assessments and
interpret regional analyses
oceanographic information


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ANNEXES
Annex 1
Incremental Cost/Co-financing Analysis
Annex 2
Stakeholder Inventory and Analysis (including consultative mechanism
inventory)
Annex 3
Record of Stakeholder Consultation
Annex 4
Indicator Availability
Annex 5
Sustainability Analysis

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Annex 1
Incremental Cost/Co-financing Analysis
Summary
Total 2005-2009
Theme
Total 2005-2009
Baseline
Incremental

(US$ 000)
1 Law
225
100
2 Policy/Management
165+
150
3 Compliance
3575
200
4 Monitoring
275
100
5 Science
0
50
Total
4240+
600

Palau has modest requirements with respect to the Convention and Commission, as much is in place, but all obligations
need to be fully implemented at national level.
Co-financing estimates based on :

Law: Legislative reform, training
Policy/management: Implement Tuna Management Plan; establish consultative mechanisms; participate in Commission
activities; annual contribution
Compliance: Increased seagoing surveillance
Monitoring: Re-establish observer programme
Science: Database enhancement and training; verified catch estimates



















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Donor Funding (US$ 000)
Total 2005-2009
Theme
Donor
Project
Total 2005-2009 Incremental
Baseline
Compliance
RAN
Maritime


Surveillance


advisors






Base Data

2004
2004
Institution
Programme Theme
%OFM
OFM
Budget
Budget
MRD
Executive
Policy/Mgmt/
?
?
?


PFAC
BOFM
Administration Policy/Mgmt
40
100%
40

BOFM
Monitoring
and
Licensing
20
100%
20

Licensing
BOFM
Compliance
Port sample/obs
60
100%
60
Justice
AG
Law
500
10%
50
Justice
MLE
Compliance
660
100%
660
State
IT & TA
Policy/Mgmt
?
20%
?
Total






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Annex 1
Incremental Cost/Co-financing Analysis

Details

2004
2004
2004 WCPF
2005-2009
Total
Theme
Institution
Programme
OFM
Non-WCPF
New WCPF Increment
Increment
Baseline
Incr
budget
Baseline








2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total

1 Law
A.G.
Law
50
5
45
225
15
15
15
15
15
75
100
2 Policy/Mgmt* BOFM
Admin
40
5
35
165
15
15
15
15
15
75
100

State
IT & TA
?
5
?
?
5
5
5
5
5
25
50
3 Compliance BOFM
Compliance
60
5
55
275
15
15
15
15
15
75
100

MLED
Maritime
660
0
660
3300
20
20
20
20
20
100
100
Port
4 Monitoring BOFM
60
5
55
275
15
15
15
15
15
75
100
sampling/observers
5 Science
BOFM
Stats
0
0
0
0
10
10
10
10
10
50
50



?
25
?
?
95
95 95
95 95
475
600

* includes Commission annual contribution of US$ 9,500 p.a. for 2005-2009

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Annex 2 Stakeholder Inventory and Analysis (including consultative mechanism inventory)

Country:

Palau
Date:

2nd July, 2004
Data Recorder: Tony Lewis (alewis9@bigpond.com)

Description of
Stakeholder analysis and preliminary participation plan
Interests
Representative/
1o s/holder
2o s/holder
Other
Stakeholder
Contact details
post
[factors that may
[role in decision-
[2-way flow of

influence
making]
information]
participation]
[Keep informed]
Director
X


Bureau of Oceanic Fishery
Tel: 488 3997
National
oceanic
(Silas Orrukem)
Management (BOFM)

fisheries authority

Minister
(Fritz
X


Ministry of Resources and Koshiba)
Tel: 488 2701
Responsible ministry,
Development / PFAC
Consultant (Vic Tel: 488 5004
policy formulation
Uherbelau)
Office
of
Environmental National Planner
GEF
Operational

X

Tel 488 6950
Response and Coordination
(Youlsau Bells)
Focal Point
Environment
Quality EO
(Terangue

X

Tel: 488 1639
Environment issues
Protection Board
Gillham)
Asst AG (Quay

X

Attorney General's Office
Tel: 488 2481
Legal aspects
Polloi)
Ministry of State (Bureau of Director (Ramon
X


International Trade and Tech Rechebei)
Tel: 488 2490
Policy/coordination
Assistance)

Marine Law Enforcement Chief (Ellender
X


Tel: 488 5206
Surveillance
Division
Ngirameketii)
Division of Transport and Manager (Hayes Tel: 488 4343
Vessel register

X


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Communication,
Maritime Moses)
Safety Branch

Customs
Manager
Tel:

X

(Francisco
Ports operations

Gibson)

Immigration
Benito Thomas
Tel: 488 2498


X

Palau International Traders

X

President
Tel: 488 1385
Tuna fishing co.
Inc. (PITI)
Palau Marine Industries Corp

X

President
Tel: 488 2396
Tuna fishing co.
(PMIC)
Kuniyoshi Fishing Co. (KFC)
General Manager Tel: 488 2113
Tuna fishing co.

X

Palau Conservation Society
Belhaim Sokuma
Tel: 488 3993
Environmental issues

X

The
Nature
Conservancy

X

Andrew Smith
Tel: 488 2017
"
(TNC)
Small scale fishers


fishing

X

Palau Community College





X

Inventory of Project-related national consultative mechanisms
Consultative
Parent/host body
Representative/
Area(s)
Frequency
Members and affiliations
body
of
of
contact details
interest
meetings
Palau
Office of the Tel: 21399
Palau

Four Ministers, one private sector rep.
Fisheries
President / MRD
fishery
Advisory
Committee
(PFAC)


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Annex 3 Record of Stakeholder Consultation


GEF SAP II Country Mission
Republic of Palau
Friday 2nd July, 2004
Stakeholder Consultation
The Mission held a stakeholders consultation at the Longshoremen's Inn, Malakal, to discuss the
development of the SAP II project. Those present were: Silas Orrukem (Director, Bureau of Oceanic
Fishery Management), Noah Idechong (Delegate for Ngamil State, OEK),Vic Uherbelau (Palau
Trading Company and consultant to MRD), Tiger Gillham (Environmental Quality Protection Board),
Quay Polloi (Asst. Attorney General, Ministry of Justice) Hayes Moses (Maritime Safety Branch,
Along Joseph(Division of Transport and Communication), Ramon Rechebei (Trade Division,
Ministry of State), Belhaim Sakuma (Palau Conservation Society), Francisco Gibson (Palau
Customs), Franny Reklai (Bureau of Marine Resources), Benito Thomas (Immigration) and Laurence
Abraham (GEF TA).
The lengthy consultation combined a detailed presentation on GEF processes and project background,
with a general awareness presentation about the Convention, current tuna fishery management in the
WCPO, and implications of the Convention for Palau, then a detailed needs assessment for Palau. It
was preceded by a working breakfast with Hon. Fritz Koshiba (Minister for Resources and
Development) and key Government officials, to discuss the general policy framework in oceanic
fisheries management in Palau.
Issues raised during the primary stakeholders'consultation included:
· Palau's existing shortcomings with respect to meeting its obligations under the Convention, and
the need to ratify the Convention
· The need for capacity building in relevant areas, and the need to attract young professionals into
the key agencies (BOFM etc) under attractive conditions of service
· The need for legal assistance with revising existing Palau legislation if model regional legislation
does not exist
· Recognition that stakeholder input into the tuna management process is currently fraught, and the
project should develop mechanisms to facilitate this; participation in the Commission's work will
also need such a mechanism
· information urgently needed on the apparent steady decline in tuna catches in the Palau EEZ
(impacts of the very large adjacent Philippines and Indonesian fisheries)
· need to implement the National Tuna Fishery Management Plan
Other one-on-one consultations held were with:
Bureau of Oceanic Fishery Management:
· Silas Orrukem, Director; Celestine Angilmau (DD), Kathy Sisior

Marine Law Enforcement Division
· Capt Capt Ellender Ngirameketii (Chief), Lt. Ian Turvet(CO), EO, Navigator

Private Sector (PITI, KFC)
Contact was not made with the GEF Operational Focal Point (Youlsau Bells (OERC)) who was on sick
leave and not available.

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The general awareness presentation was repeated for the Palau Congress (OEK) on Monday 5th July, with
six Delegates, two Senators, and senior Govt. officials present.
Issues raised in the ensuing discussion included: reasons for observed declines in tuna stocks in Palau's
EEZ; Palau's development aspirations and priorities re the tuna fishery; expected benefits from the
Convention to Palau and conversely, its obligations; Palau, the Palau Arrangement and FFA, and steps
needed to ratify the Convention. The consultation seemed to have paved the way for Palau to ratify the
Convention before the forthcoming elections later in the year, base don the response of the meeting.
Media coverage of the Convention and oceanic fisheries management generally was extensive during the
Mission's visit to Palau, with interviews given with the Palau Horizon newspaper (Bernadette Carreon),
and Ecoparadise Radio Station (Patrick Moses).

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Annex 4 ­ Availability of National Indicators

Current Value, if easily
Indicator
Availability
available
1. Coverage of:


a) catch and effort logsheets: locally-based

Around 100%
fleet
b) catch and effort logsheets: foreign access fleet

High
c) port sampling

~ 100%
d) observers: domestic fleet

Nil (previous programmes)
2. Levels of budgets and staffing for these


programmes
3. Levels of fleet capacity and fishing effort


4. Catch of target species,


5. Levels of mortality of related species,


including bycatch and seabirds

Note: this analysis does not include a range of national indicators which are known to be available for all
countries such as status of legislation, undertaking of national reforms etc.

Annex V - Sustainability Analysis

Annual Government Revenue from licensing, access fees, export taxes,
USMLT and FSM Arrangement fees :




US $ 1.3 million (2003)




Annual In-Zone Catch Value: US$ 14 million plus artisanal, sport
Annual Domestic Catch Value: not known
(Data above to be estimated by FFA)








Annual Production Value (including value of processing): US$ 20 million ?
Expected Annual Commission Contributions: US$10,000
Estimated Annual Government Incremental Costs:




17

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