URGENT PLEASE.  Dear Friends, This is the very FIRST TIME I AM PUBLICLY REQUESTING HELP in a matter that is so important to the people of Palau and to me. Some members of Congress in Palau are attempting to pass a Bill allowing the fishing of Napoleon Wrass and Bumphead Parrotfish in Palauan Waters.  The Office of the President, His Excellency, TOMMY E. REMENGESAU JR. is inviting comments to address this Bill which is waiting to be signed into law. PLEASE JUST SIMPLY SIGN THIS PETITION AND/OR ALSO SEND AN EMAIL ASAP WHENEVER YOU CAN, TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED.  WRITE YOUR STATEMENT OR  PLEASE SEE THE SAMPLE BELOW  TO “COPY AND PASTE” WHAT IS WRITTEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.  

This Bill is in contradiction to all the Marine Conservation efforts that have been put in place by the President’s Administration and Marine Conservationists in Palau.  The Bill is roughly drafted without a catch limit or a specific minimum to maximum size;  and the suggestion on the Bill states that it is for “personal consumption and for other related purposes”… which can loosely cover many reasons for over-fishing.

I am a Transformational Speaker, Published Underwater Photographer and Writer; I have been coming to Palau regularly for 15 years, diving, shooting photography, and writing magazine articles about the marine conservation efforts here; I now also do public talks and speak to inspire Consciousness and Spirituality to the youth and college students. I care deeply about Palau and all Palauans and their future. There is plenty of other reef and deep water fish that sustains the well-being of the country. To allow the fishing of Napoleon Wrass and Bumphead Parrotfish will significantly reduce their population rapidly and affect the environmental balance of marine life in Palau.

The Napoleon Wrass ~ Cheilinus Undulatus ~ Maml in Palauan,  is listed under CITIES Appendix II as an endangered species.  Napoleon Wrass is a beautiful, long living, and intelligent fish.  They recognize returning divers to dive sites which is why it is a major tourist attraction and draw for divers at dive sites like Palau’s famous Blue Corner.  They spawn year round and sometimes spawn individually with no specified season. I have personally witnessed their exquisite mating behaviour very recently. Already listed as an endangered species in the world, the Napoleon Wrass must be protected entirely.

The Bumphead Parrotfish ~ Bolpometopon Muricatum ~ Kemedukl in Palauan ~ has the Conservation Status - “Threatened and Vulnerable Species”. It has been fished-out in many parts of the world.  For example, in nearby Guam, this Bumphead population is currently so small and can only be found in the deep because of the effects of spearfishing pressure.  Both species sleep at night in the shallow reefs and can easily be speared and hunted.

It takes 5 years for a Bumphead Parrotfish to become a mature female that can spawn and then it takes another 4 years thereafter for it to become a male—it is a 5-10 year generation.  The Bumphead Aggregation happens every month with a lunar component.  Its spawning is a unique event that Palau is known for. If one wanted to witness this behavioural and reproductive activity, Palau is the place that attracts scuba divers and scientists to dive here. There is a specific dive site in Palau were this special spawning event takes place, and now that the spot and timing is known to many operators, a whole generation of fish would be wiped out in no time, if fishing is allowed here. This site should be protected because fish from miles away come here to spawn.

***TO EVERYONE READING THIS POST, PLEASE KINDLY SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY.

***PLEASE TAKE ONE MINUTE OF YOUR TIME TODAY, TO STOP THIS BILL.  PLEASE WRITE A WRITTEN STATEMENT OR SIMPLY CUT AND PASTE WHAT IS WRITTEN BELOW AND SEND TO:

ROP.PRESIDENT@PALAUNET.COM

SUBJECT:  REFERENCE SB 10-78 SD1

DEAR PRESIDENT REMENGESAU:
REFERENCE: SB 10-78 SD1
PLEASE STOP THIS BILL AND BAN THE FISHING OF NAPOLEON WRASSE AND BUMPHEAD PARROTFISH IN PALAUAN WATERS.  THE SUSTAINABILITY AND BALANCE OF MARINE LIFE IN PALAU, AND THE FUTURE OF THE CHILDREN OF PALAU DEPENDS ON IT.

SINCERELY,

(write your name, and town or city of residence )