President Surangel Whipps Jr. issued an Executive Order establishing a coordinating mechanism for the implementation of the marine spatial planning (MSP) for the Blue Prosperity Plan.
Executive Order No. 476 is issued after the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget includes provision for MSP to study Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and domestic fishing market.
The coordinating mechanism committee will include the president himself, the Minister of Justice, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Minister of infrastructure, Minister of Tourism, and representative from the Palau International Coral Reef Center.
The Executive Committee will also be composed of representatives from the OEK.
The Executive Committee will be responsible for review and finalization of the policy recommendations and make sure that the working group complies with all grant requirements
The mechanism will also be composed of members of the Steering Committee on Science, Conservation, and Technical Matters which will include representatives from the Nature Conservancy, Secretariat of Pacific Committee, Conservation International, Blue Nature Alliance, Palau Conservation Society, Waitt Institute, Global Fishing Watch, and more.
The local NGOs like Friends of the PNMS, BOFI, and Ebiil Society are invited to participate as members of the working group for MSP implementation.