The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE) supported the proposed bill to permit berried female rock lobster harvesting and commerce for marine and aquaculture projects.
In a letter to Senator Umiich Sengebau, MAFE Minister Steven Victor said that the Ministry agrees with the bill’s intent” to promote mariculture and aquaculture development of local food.
He said he is looking forward to working with the lawmakers to strengthen and provide a legal framework to develop locally sourced food such as the rock lobsters.
Senate Bill No. 11-53-5 also calls for a permitting process for the selling, fishing, and harvesting of rock lobsters.
The bill gives the responsibility of promulgating rules and regulations for the permitting process and ensuring that the rock lobster population in the world is monitored and harvested sustainably.
According to a 2012 Secretariat Pacific Community Palau Domestic Fishing Laws publication, the rock lobster population ” is relatively small and fragile, and there is a high demand on the local market for this delicacy.”