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.
