KOROR, Palau — The Ministry of Justice’s Division of Maritime Security and Fish and Wildlife Protection (DMSFWP) has acquired two high-tech drones to bolster surveillance and enforcement within the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, aiming to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The acquisition of the Matrice 350 RTK drones is part of the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF7) Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) project, supporting the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its vast marine territory.
To ensure effective deployment, DMSFWP officers completed a two-day training session from Feb. 2–3 with technicians from 2CoFly, a Guam-based drone company. The training covered drone operation, maintenance, and emergency protocols, culminating in live-flight drills to reinforce safety and operational procedures.
Drones Offer Key Advantages in Marine Protection
Illegal and unregulated fishing remains a major challenge in the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, which spans 500,000 square kilometers and is difficult to patrol using traditional methods. The newly acquired drones provide aerial surveillance, allowing authorities to quickly detect unauthorized fishing activity and respond more efficiently.
“The M350 drone training with 2CoFly was excellent,” said Jeremiah Ngiratreged, DMSFWP’s Surveillance and Enforcement Coordinator. “I believe the training as a whole gave officers solid foundational knowledge on not just the operation and maintenance aspect of the M350 RTK, but also a good understanding of the importance of safety while being a Small Unmanned Aerial System Operator..”
Drones enhance maritime security by covering vast ocean areas with minimal operational costs compared to patrol vessels. Equipped with advanced imaging technology and GPS tracking, the drones will allow officers to monitor marine ecosystems, track suspicious vessels, and collect evidence for enforcement actions.
With the training complete, Palau is now better equipped to strengthen its marine surveillance capabilities, reinforcing its commitment to ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries management.