[Marine Sanctuary Concept gets evaluated for Funding] An international funding organization is looking at providing assistance to Palau’s bid to declare 80 percent of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as marine protected area, the grant however will be dependent on the passage of the marine sanctuary pan now pending before Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK). Oceans 5 Program Director Charles Fox in a press conference yesterday state that him and another colleague is in Palau to evaluate a potential grant to help Palau implement proposed marine sanctuary. “Palau’s proposed marine sanctuary has captured global attention. It is a thoughtful, well-designed initiative that will benefit the people of Palau for generations to come. It will strengthen the economy, improve biodiversity and increase domestic fishing production,” he said. He also lauded the initiative of Palau’s leadership in coming up with the plan that will also be beneficial to the world’s oceans. Fox said Ocean 5 is a funder’s collaborative comprised of marine philanthropists from the United States and Europe and is focused on projects to stop illegal fishing and establishment of marine reserves. In October, an amended Palau Marine Sanctuary legislation was proposed by the Executive Branch, the bill amended the measure earlier authored by Sen. Hokkons Baules. The amendments would immediately ban purse seine fishing and the taking of marine mammals and rays and provide a transition period of five years and after that period create a marine sanctuary covering 80 percent of Palau’s EEZ in which no fishing would occur and create a domestic fishing zone covering 20 percent of Palau’s EEZ in which traditional and domestic fishing activities would be allowed to provide for the domestic market. The measure also assured that the states in Palau would not lose current revenue streams from fishing activities and identifies additional funding to cover the cost of the marine surveillance. Fox said the concept proposal it has received from the Palau government is a transitional financial assistance in areas of fisheries, enforcement, marine science, marketing, and administration. Asked how soon Palau can get the grant, Fox said, their evaluation hinges on the adoption by the OEK of the marine sanctuary plan. He said as they bring the proposal before the Ocean 5 board, “we want to bring them something concrete.” He said part of their evaluations is to assess Palau’s priority challenges and try to get understanding of the needs and how the organization can best respond to the needs. As to the funding amount, Fox said at this stage it is still unclear but cited an Ocean 5 funded project in the Cook Islands where they awarded a grant of at least $1.5 million over the course of three years. Tia Belau News. January 15, 2015.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:42:29 +0000
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