Overview:
Palau’s future ocean stewards were celebrated this week as the Council of Chiefs honored high school students for their cleanup efforts during the 10th Anniversary of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary. The students not only collected tons of marine debris but also shared thoughtful views on the importance of ocean protection—and the current proposal to reduce the sanctuary’s size.
By: L.N. Reklai
PALAU — The Palau Council of Chiefs recognized high school students on Nov. 3 for their coastal cleanup efforts during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), honoring their commitment to environmental stewardship and civic responsibility.
At a small ceremony held at the Office of the Council of Chiefs, each participating high school—Palau High School, Mindzenty High School, Emmaus and Bethania High School, Palau Mission Academy, and Belau Modekngei High School—received $300 for their involvement in the cleanup campaign.
High Chief Reklai Bao Ngirmang commended the students for their hard work and initiative, saying he was “pretty impressed with young people for their understanding of the important matters that impact their communities and country.”
“I remember myself at that age,” Ngirmang said. “Yes, our parents talked to us about civic responsibilities but we were not able to mobilize other young people and take action to make a difference. I am so proud of these young people today.”
The PNMS 10th anniversary featured a nationwide cleanup involving 14 of Palau’s 16 states, five high schools, and several NGOs and organizations. More than 340 students participated, collecting three tons of trash and marine debris in just two to three hours before running out of trash bags.
During the award ceremony, the chiefs and high school principals discussed making the cleanup an annual educational activity tied to the PNMS anniversary, allowing students to learn environmental responsibility through hands-on participation.
Several students stayed after the event to share their thoughts on the PNMS and ongoing discussions to reduce its protected area from 80% to 50%.
“I think we should keep the 80% protection of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary,” said senior student Ms. Albert. “We should protect it for future generations. If we reduce the protected area, it will lead to overfishing in the long run.”
Another student, Mr. Basilius, said he had heard his family discuss the proposal. “They say they are getting older and should be thinking of their kids growing up and having kids of their own. And with overfishing, how will they feed themselves?”
Not all students agreed. Kazuma, a younger high schooler, said that restricting fishing to just 20% of Palau’s waters could increase illegal fishing or poaching. “Increasing available fishing grounds may be a good idea,” he said.
Marcil, another student, said he had not heard about the proposal but believed the sanctuary should remain unchanged. “PNMS is protected for future generations and should remain as is,” he said.
A teacher who joined the discussion said her school promotes eating local food, with fish being an essential component. “I have many children, and someday when they grow up, the ocean may provide them with a source of income,” she said. “We say we are a large ocean state, and the world’s oceans are being fished, so we need to protect our part of the ocean.”
The Council of Chiefs offered to help sponsor future cleanups if schools choose to make the activity a regular part of their annual calendar.