Updates from the Ministry

M I N I S T R Y O F N A T U R A L R E S O U R C E S , E N V I R O N M E N T A N D T O U R I S M

March 2018

Thank You to staff leaving

Havalei Recheked, BOA (3/2) Alfred Tuelbang, BMR (3/2) Endira Apsalom, BOT (3/8) Gwendolyn Bai, BOA (3/10)

JB Nagata, BOA (3/18) Melvira Kazuma, BOT (3/20)

Tyler Abraham, BOA (3/20) D-Van Ongrung, BMR (3/24)

Carter Ngiralbong, BOA (3/27))

Birthdays this month

MARCH NEWS

BMR staff  farewell Bing-Je Wu at his

send-off on 1st March 2018.

Photo credit: Dino C. T. Hsieh

Bureau of Marine Resources Director Leon

Remengesau  presents aquaculture expert

Bing-Je Wu with a certificate of appreciation

for his services to the PNAC.

Photo credit: Dino C. T. Hsieh

Bing-Je Wu, Aquaculture Expert

Taiwanese aquaculture expert Bing-Je Wu completed his contract with the Palau National Aquaculture Center (PNAC) on 28th February. He had worked at the PNAC from 2016 to 2018. During this time, he assisted the Center in promoting the mariculture of rabbit fishes, successfully raising 28,000 juveniles.

Bing-Je also standardized breeding techniques of clown fish, which has helped to demonstrate the concept of conservation of ornamental fish to locals and tourists visiting the Palau National Aquarium.

Besides fin fish breeding he also established the foundations of systematic management, integrating the work required to maintain the larviculture and broodstock of fin fish species at the PNAC.

A send-off was held for Bing-Je at the Bureau of Marine Resources on 1st March 2018.

PALAU’S ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROJECT F E A T U R E D P R O J E C T

Based on a Memorandum of Understanding with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Ministry’s mandate under the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) Act of 2015, MNRET's Bureau of Marine Resources (BMR) has been working with TNC to develop a national electronic monitoring (EM) program, the Palau Tuna Project (PTP), to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in Palau's waters. IUU fishing has negative impacts on stocks of targeted tuna as well as bycatch species such as turtles and sharks. It also threatens the food security and livelihoods of those who are licensed to fish.

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) calls for at least 5% observer coverage onboard longline vessels operating in the region. In Palau, limited human resources, limited space aboard smaller vessels, logistics, and the costs of a human observer program have limited offshore observer coverage to about 1%.  The resulting deficiency of data on target and non-target catch of longline vessels and their general operations impedes effective management of the fishery and the PNMS, as called for under the PNMS Act. Palau recognizes the importance of robust data to improve the scientific understanding of these fisheries, strengthen management tools, and promote the enforcement of existing national and regional conservation measures. 

Electronic monitoring essentially consists of closed video or photographic systems that do not allow external or manual inputs nor manipulation

of data. The EM system consists of a control center connected to an array of peripheral

components including CCTV cameras, the vessel's AIS or GPS receiver, winch and engine sensors

and a communications transceiver. Video footage is recorded day and night. 

To date, EM systems have been installed on seven fishing vessels licensed to fish in Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Data Review Center (DRC) has been established in BMR's Division of Oceanic Fishery Management. It houses two trained office observers in charge of reviewing vessel footage collected from the vessels. A total of 11 trips have been fully analyzed at the DRC, equating to a 19% review rate for the 58 trips completed by the seven vessels. The DRC commenced operations in October 2016.

Through the collection of scientific data, EM can can help inform the management of tuna fisheries and improve compliance with, and enforcement of, national fishing laws. A central objective of the PTP is therefore the development of a national Data Review Center to complement the existing human observer program through the use of  technologies  that allow for improved data collection and catch monitoring.  

Installing an EM system.

Photo credit: TNC

Office observers and trainers at Palau's

Data Review Center. Photo credit: TNC

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MINISTRY? M A R C H T I D B I T S F R O M O U R B U R E A U S

C O N T I N U E D N E X T P A G E

Bureau of Agriculture (BOA)

Through the hard work of Bureau of Agriculture Director Fred Sengebau, the Project Manager Madelsar Ngiraingas, BOA staff Tibeich Malsol and Shaina Mimong, and many staff from the livestock and horticulture division, the first of five integrated dry-litter piggeries was completed. this month. On March 1, 2018, the ribbon-cutting ceremony and demonstration was held at the pilot project site in Elechui, Aimeliik. The other four pilot sites are at their final stages of completion.

For more information about this project please do not hesitate to call the Bureau of Agriculture office at 622-5804.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony and demonstration of the first dry-litter piggery being completed in Palau.

Photo credit: Fred Sengebau/Keith Mesebeluu

Integrated farming system dry litter piggery with organic gardening

The Bureau of Agriculture (BOA) partnered with the Grants office to secure a $530,000 grant with EU-GIZ Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (ACSE) program. This program is  currently active in 15 countries to help with climate change adaptation and support a reduction in fossil fuel dependency.

The EU-GIZ ASCE program has introduced a new farming approach known as Integrated

farming system dry-litter piggery with organic gardening. This complete system creates compost by introducing mulch to the pig pens, thus allowing the pigs to turn and mix the mulch with their own manure to create compost. The compost is then used for gardening. This complete dry litter piggery system also includes tanks to catch water runoff from the piggery's roofs for watering the garden and providing the pigs with drinking water. Another benefit of this farming system is the elimination of wastewater runoff to the environment, such as can be seen in traditional wash-down pig farms.

April 22: Earth Day

Upcoming International Observances

Bureau of Agriculture (BOA) - Workshop invitation

Upcoming Event:  National workshop to update the National Invasive Species Strategic Action Plan

(NISSAP)   This invitation is extended to all persons or stakeholders with an interest in the National Invasive Species Strategic Action Plan (NISSAP).

The Bureau of Agriculture and consultants will be hosting a workshop to update the National Invasive Species Strategic Action Plan (NISSAP). This 1-day workshop will be held at the Palau Community College Assembly Hall on April 4th, 2018.

Active participation in this workshop is crucial for the development of a successful plan to prevent, eradicate, and control invasive species in Palau - the biggest threat to our unique biodiversity and livelihoods. To reduce the use of paper in efforts to help save the forest, we kindly ask that all participants bring a laptop and a virus- free thumb drive for file sharing.

For more information please call Keith Mesebeluu at 622-5804.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MINISTRY? M A R C H T I D B I T S C O N T I N U E D

C O N T I N U E D N E X T P A G E

Palau National Aquaculture Center (PNAC)

On March 22 , fish farm co-owners Mr.  Temmy Shmull Jr.,  Mr.  Godwin Ito and Mr.  Jay Okada were able to harvest a batch of rabbit fish (klsebuul) at their fish farm in Malakal, Koror after nearly seven months of rearing. The harvest comprised a total of 1,263 live fish, weighing approximately 668 lbs with a survival rate of 71%.  The fish regularly sell at $3.75/pound, with the value of live fish currently at $7/pound.

Bureau of Marine Resources (BMR)

The PNAC rears several species of interest to the food and aquarium industries, including the rabbit fishes Siganus fuscescens (meyas), Siganus lineatus (klsebuul), the grouper

Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (hludel temekai), the prawn Penaeus monodon (also known as tiger shrimp), and the clown fish Amphiprion ephippium. Only rabbit fish are being sold, at a  price per individual of $ 0.05.  The PNAC is currently under repair, with renovations expected to be completed next month.

Fish farm co-owners harvest rabbit fish at their

farm in Malakal, Koror on March 22, 2018.

Photo credit: Dino C. T. Hsieh

 BWA meets with Governors’ Association

March 20, 2018 – The Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Tourism’s Belau Watershed Alliance (BWA) and GEF Pacific R2R IW Program met with the Governors’ Association at the Koror State Assembly Hall to update the Association on the Alliance’s progress.

BWA gave a short presentation on the history of the Alliance as well as its current and future plans. The presentation also included BWA activities such as updating its Action Plan, developing promotional and educational outreach materials like stickers, banners, posters, and brochures to give to schools, states, and various events as well as availability of various SLM services to states upon request. Before the meeting ended, BWA was able to capture the Association’s thoughts about the importance of Palau’s water that would be used in the updated BWA Action Plan. The Governors’ Association expressed their support for the work that BWA has been doing, encouraging the Alliance to take certain steps towards having a much larger impact than it already has.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MINISTRY? M A R C H T I D B I T S C O N T I N U E D

BWA partners with Airai State for Education Awareness Week

March 13, 2018 – MNRET and the Belau Watershed Alliance (BWA) were invited by Airai State Government and Airai Elementary School to participate in their annual Education Awareness Week. BWA and Airai Government shared a booth where educational materials such as water conservation posters, watershed brochures, and other educational materials were displayed and distributed to at least three quarters of the school’s population from grades 1 - 7.

Special Projects under the Ministry - GEF Pacific R2R IW Project

BWA representatives and Airai watershed officers spoke to students about the importance of water and keeping Palau’s watersheds clean and healthy, as well as the impact of careers and work that focus on proper management of Palau’s fresh water resources.

C O N T I N U E D N E X T P A G E

BWA at the World Water Day Fair held at PICRC grounds

March 22, 2018 – The Ministry of Natural Resource, Environment, and Tourism’s and Belau Watershed Alliance and GEF Pacific R2R IW Project joined the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and other agencies such as Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB), Palau Conservation Society (PCS), Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) and the Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) for the World Water Day Fair.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MINISTRY? M A R C H T I D B I T S C O N T I N U E D

Special Projects under the Ministry - GEF Pacific R2R IW Project

Giveaways such as stickers and brochures about watersheds as well as water conservation posters were given to students. Ecological maps of selected states were displayed along with a watershed model and demonstration to show common watershed features and functions, and the effects of human activity on and around a watershed area.

To test student’s knowledge, a trivia game was played with general and state-specific questions and answers about Palau’s watersheds. The overall turnout of students reached over 300 from six different schools.

Students learning about

Palau's watersheds at the

World Water Day Fair held

at the Palau International

Coral Reef Center on 22

March 2018.

Photo credit: Sahar Hanser/

R2R IW Project

WHO IS. . .?

R I M I R C H ' R I C ' K A T O S A N G P O R T S A M P L E R & O B S E R V E R , B U R E A U O F M A R I N E R E S O U R C E S

Ric began his career as an observer and port sampler in 1996 at the Palau Maritime Agency (PMA), a semi-government organization where he worked in a small team of seven. When the PMA was dissolved, Ric was first moved to Foreign Affairs, then the Bureau of Agriculture, and finally to what is now the Division of Oceanic Fishery Management at BMR.

Ric has attended many trainings both as an observer and port sampler - most recently he was certified as a PIRFO (Pacific Island Regional Fisheries Observer) - but it is the observer role that has captured his childhood fascination with the high seas. He considers the role of the observer one of his job’s biggest challenges: an observer has to balance being part of the crew, while also having to record activities that could reflect negatively on the crew, such as the bycatch of protected species, or illegal fishing on another company’s FAD. His advice for aspiring observers reflects this reality: "For this kind of work you don’t have a boss standing next

to you, checking your every move. You need to be self-driven, honest and use your time wisely."

Born in Koror and raised in Ngiwal, Ric attended Pohnpei Agriculture and Trade School before he returned to Palau and applied for his first observer job. Describing his daily work as an observer and port sampler, Ric explains "we are the eyes and ears of the scientists". He regrets that Palau's observer program is not more active. "Many people just don't like doing

observer work. But I always wanted to see what’s out there beyond the reef, at that 200 nautical

mile boundary of the EEZ. Being an observer has allowed me to travel to many exciting and beautiful

places." Ric's pet peeve is not hard to guess: "Being stuck on land!"

Asked to recall a defining moment in his career, Ric remembers "there was a time when the

observer program was going to stagnate and I was the only one who could do the work and jump on a

boat. I felt responsible to keep the project alive. This guy from SPC, Peter Sharples, said to me, ‘Just keep doing it! The more you do it and try to get it right, the more you’ll succeed.’ That was a

really inspiring moment when I needed it."

Ric hopes to do a few more observer trips before he retires in 2020.