A Decade of Youth Voices, Community Strength, and Ocean Stewardship

(First Place Winners of the PNMS 10th Anniversary Essay Contest, from high school level and elementary level. This year, 2025, marked the 10th year since the Palau National Marine Sanctuary was enacted into law.)

Taira B. Kishigawa 23 Oct 2025

How long will it be until Palau loses its marine ecosystems? Ocean pollution and climate change directly impact the people of Palau’s identity and survival; to the naked eye, white corals may not appear too irregular, but to us Palauans, they reveal that underwater ecosystems are struggling to adapt to warming waters. The Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) stands as a testament to this enduring bond. As we celebrate a decade of the PNMS, the theme “A Decade of Youth Voices, Community Strength, and Ocean Stewardship” reminds us that Palau’s offshore waters are more than just an environmental cause. This shared promise will carry our legacy for future generations.

Like many other islands worldwide, Palau relies heavily on the ocean as the root of our sustenance and general livelihood. However, the sea is constantly threatened by overfishing, pollution, and the effects of climate change. For example, fishermen today report noticeably fewer schools of fish than before, resulting in them going to waters further away from the island to sustain themselves. A study published by the Palau International Coral Reef Center on July 21st, 2022, entailed the discovery of microplastics throughout Palau’s reefs and beaches. As a result, on January 1st, 2020, the PNMS was established to ensure that Palau’s vibrant marine diversity remains healthy. The sanctuary covers 80% of Palau’s waters, mainly offshore, to stop extractive activities. It protects ecosystems supporting tuna life cycles, coral reefs, and thousands of other marine organisms.

Protecting these waters is a gift to the children of Palau. It’s a way of ensuring that the waters that fed our ancestors will continue to do so for future generations to come. The sanctuary acts as nature’s security, protecting thriving ecosystems so that they can adapt to the changing world. Aside from conservation, the PNMS teaches future generations the importance of patience and restraint; allowing livestock to grow in numbers ensures that every mouth in Palau is fed.

These values have worked for Palauans since their original arrival and will continue to do so. “Bul” is a traditional conservation law that is usually applied to the ocean. For it to be formally instilled, the Council of Chiefs must select certain areas in the reef to be deemed off

limits to fishing during known fish spawning and feeding periods. In this new age of information and technology, a bridge must exist that connects science and traditional knowledge. When times call for statistics, examinations, and data collection, tradition can offer different insights in decision-making. Much like “Bul”, the PNMS allow reef and fish stocks to replenish themselves with time. Only 20% of Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is designated as a Domestic Fishing Zone for the people of Palau, which leaves the remaining 80% as a protected marine sanctuary. Similarly, traditional leaders used a similar method to protect the health of fish by dictating which species could be farmed during specific months. This ancient rule mirrors modern conservation science, demonstrating how old and new worlds can work together for mutual benefit.

Most importantly, the role of the youth and community is essential to sustaining the PNMS’s success in Palau. Our future generations will carry the responsibility of upholding this tradition of safeguarding the sea. Despite many of the youth living in proximity to the ocean, there must be an initiative to educate them about its importance and their own role in it as well. Activities such as school reef monitoring programs and beach cleanups engage the youth in

firsthand conservation. Activities available to the youth include scuba-diving camps (provided by the Palau Pledge organization) that allow us to hone a valuable skill and dive into our marine environment. As more time passes, information is taught, and these values are normalized amongst the youth, sustainability will come naturally to the new generation.

Community action also plays a crucial part in conservation. Teachers, elders, families, and even fishermen alike all contribute to spreading awareness and implementing sustainable practices. For example, not using plastic is a minor, yet equally important, conservation measure for our waters. In both situations, anyone can find ways to protect and ensure the health of our environment. When people understand that protecting the ocean is equivalent to safeguarding their livelihood, they become genuinely invested in conservation.

The ocean is not separate from the land of Palau. Our relationships with our land, like our states or hamlets, are identical to those with the sea. Sanctuaries remind us that as people of Palau, we are the sole protectors of our nation. The main marine sanctuary, PNMS, can call on every Palauan to take responsibility for its health.

As it reaches a decade of protection, the path forward is clear: we must continue to amplify the voices of youth, promote community action, and honor both science and tradition. These, in combination, are the sole pillars of stewardship. Every coral, fish, and wave holds the heritage of Palau and the lives of future generations.

Student Information
Full name: Taira B. Kishigawa Grade: 12th Grade
School: Palau High School