Koror, Palau: A national project to strengthen management efforts for the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) has successfully concluded after four years and $1.8 million in support of fisheries management, enforcement & surveillance, and research and outreach efforts.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project enabled the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (MAFE), and the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) to advance its mutual efforts in achieving strategic objectives for the PNMS. Notably, these efforts addressed unique challenges in managing a large-scale marine protected area, like the PNMS, which is remote, largely unexplored and covers an oceanic area of more than 590,000 square kilometers.
Project highlights included consultations with 39 local and international experts, managers and partners to develop the PNMS Science & Monitoring Strategy, which prioritized the research needed to support and inform policies, management and ultimately benefit communities. The project also championed innovative education and outreach efforts, including working with local artists to launch a PNMS song contest, engaging students to inspire deep-sea concepts into the PICRC Arts & Tides Calendar, working with schools and students to develop PNMS-themed videos, and constructing remotely operated vehicles, which are vital tools in deep-sea exploration.
A key achievement was the project’s support for stakeholder engagements and activities that complemented an unprecedented scientific expedition aboard exploration vessel E/V Nautilus, in collaboration with the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET). The expedition was aptly named Lebuu’s Voyage, in honor of Palau’s rich traditional history and successfully mapped over 19,000 km2 of the seafloor, provided hands-on training in offshore research and collected a wealth of scientific data currently under analysis. The expedition also captured widespread public interest, generating over 2 million social media views across OET’s social media platforms.
Through the project, PICRC was able to collaborate with Whaleology in conducting a comprehensive cetacean research and capacity-building initiative, aimed at enhancing local expertise in cetacean monitoring within the PNMS. The fieldwork yielded valuable data, with a total of 465 cetaceans observed across 10 species, including new records for Palau such as sei whales and dwarf sperm whales. Importantly, killer whales and Byrde’s whales were documented for the first time on a scientific survey in Palau, adding to the region’s cetacean inventory.
Additional highlights included close collaborations with the Belau Offshore Fishers Inc., the Palau Commercial Fishing Company and local anglers to support domestic fishing efforts and strengthening research for tuna and other pelagic species. A celebration of the PNMS’ 6th anniversary was organized in Kokusai, Ngatpang, with a public event that brought together over 200 attendees and featured local vendors, informational booths from environmental agencies and organizations and a friendly tuna cooking competition among participating states.
To enhance maritime surveillance and enforcement capabilities, the project provided advanced drones and specialized training to the Division of Maritime Security and Fish & Wildlife Protection. Additionally, the project supported the participation of government officials, fisheries managers, and industry operators at high-level regional and international meetings, promoting the sustainable development of Palau’s domestic fishery and reinforcing Palau’s voice in global ocean governance.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for North Pacific Office, Kevin Petrini said:
“We commend MOJ, MAFE, and PICRC for the successful implementation of this important project. The results achieved not only support Palau’s national goals but also align with global commitments as expressed it the UN Ocean Conference. This is a model for how partnerships and commitment can lead to real impact, strategic action, and the successful implementation of a project within its timeline.”
PICRC CEO Roxanne Blesam added, “We appreciate the commitment of everyone involved and the collaborative efforts made over the past four years. This project will have lasting benefits and we are proud to have contributed to its successful implementation.”
The project delivered measurable and impactful outcomes that support the PNMS’ overarching goals of healthy ocean populations and ecosystems, food security and sustainable development.
For more information, please contact:
Nolan Rebluud | Palau International Coral Reef Centre | (E) outreach.picrc@gmail.com
