WASHINGTON, 22 JANUARY 2026 (PRISTINE SEAS) — On 17 January, the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement — known as the High Seas Treaty — came into force. The agreement provides a legal framework for nations to create and manage marine protected areas on the high […]
Tag: illegal fishing
Posted inTop Stories
Illegal Shark Fishing Persists in Palau Despite 2009 Ban
By L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau — Evidence of ongoing illegal shark fishing surfaced this week, reigniting concerns about poaching in Palau’s protected waters despite a 2009 law that established the country as a shark sanctuary. At around 9 a.m. Monday, a white foam cooler drifted ashore near Meyuns Causeway, drawing attention from passersby. Inside were […]
Posted inPacific News
South Korean vessel facing hefty fine over illegal fishing charges
MAJURO, 24 FEBRUARY 2020 (MARIANAS VARIETY) — A South Korean-flagged longline fishing vessel was charged Friday with five counts of fishing in Marshall Islands waters without a valid license. The vessel monitoring system or VMS, an onboard computer system that provides real-time positioning of a fishing vessel by satellite to island fisheries departments, provided the […]
Posted inTop Stories
Chinese man caught with a Napoleon Wrasse on social media
Several social media posts have circulated recently of a Chinese man by the name of Hang Tian in possession of a Napoleon Wrasse. People on the Facebook platform called Voices of Palau were outraged by this and believe that this man should be given a fine for this crime. Ref. 27 PNCA 1204 states that […]
Posted inTop Stories
Palau takes up IUU-Free Pacific by 2023 challenge
Palau is the latest country to take up the challenge of combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) by 2023 in the Pacific. President Tommy Remengesau Jr., in his closing remarks at the 19th Micronesia Presidents’ Summit on Friday, said the region should support the IUU Free Pacific by 2023 challenge made by the Republic of the […]