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Attachment AA
Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the
Western and Central Pacific Ocean
Sixth Regular Session
7–11 December 2009
Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
STATEMENT BY PALAU ON SHARKS
Chair, the conservation and management of sharks is an issue that is deeply important to Palau. As many
many be aware, in September this year, our President Johnson Toribiong, announced to the United
Nations General Assembly that Palau will become the world‘s first nation-wide shark sanctuary. Palau
already has measures in place to end all commercial shark fishing in our Exclusive Economic Zone of
237,000 square miles and complements the ban on shark finning.
In addition, Chair, Palau is a small island developing State and while we are proud to take the lead in
ensuring that these species, which are critical to the marine ecosystem at large, we reiterate our call for
others to join us in our efforts.
Palau applauds the commission for CMM 2008-06, which is a strengthening of the management measures
in place. Having said that, it obviously falls well short of the national standard that we have set for
ourselves.
As such we will continue to work within the Commission and the Scientific Committee to advocate for
sound stock assessments and robust management responses as this is the only way forward for many of
these species.
Thank you.
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