KOROR STATE GOVERNMENT MARINE TOUR GUIDE ... - C3

For the past two years (2002 – 2004), the Department was focused on developing a
comprehensive management plan for the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon. This 5-year
Management Plan is the product of that collaborative effort with The Nature
Conservancy and Palau Conservation Society.
Our vision is to maintain the spectacular beauty and the abundant and diverse natural
and cultural resources of the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon Management Area so that it
can continue to be used and enjoyed by current and future generations of the people of
Koror and Palau, and remain a central part of our culture and lifestyle.
The overall goal is to provide for the sustainable use of the natural resources of the
Management Area. This will be achieved through the implementation of four broad
management objectives focusing on:
• maintaining biodiversity;
• preserving traditional, cultural and recreational uses;
• providing for sustainable subsistence and commercial fishing;
• and providing for high-quality tourism and recreational activities that do not
degrade the environment.
All use of the area must be environmentally sustainable, culturally compatible and
provide benefits to the people of Koror and Palau.
The Management Plan is divided into 10 priority management issues and actions:
harvest of fish, harvest of invertebrates, declining turtle populations, endangered
dugongs, forest/terrestrial issues, climate change, tourism and other recreational
activities, infrastructure construction and development activities, boating and invasive
species.
Following approval of this plan, a Comprehensive Management Act for the Rock Islands-
Southern Lagoon Area will be developed. This will be accompanied by regulations,
which can be updated as necessary, to enable implementation of regulatory aspects of
this plan not already governed.
The new Act will replace Koror State Public Law No. K6-113-00, which is the Year 2000
Rock Islands Management and Conservation Act. The State Government allocates not
less than 50% of the revenue generated from the sale of Rock Island Use Permits (as
established by K6-113-2000) to fund the department’s programs and activities within the
Management Area.
This year, 2007, the Rock Island Use Act was amended to establish a separate permit
for the Jellyfish Lake ($35) and increased the Rock Island Use Permit ($25). The
duration of these permits is 10 days from the date of purchase. All the revenue derived
from the sales of these permits will be used to fund the the management of the Rock
Islands Southern Lagoon Area and specific management for the Ongeim’l Tketau,
Jellyfish Lake.
In addition the department also collaborates with a number of national and international
agencies and organizations to build its capacity, attain additional funding sources, and
strengthen community outreach, conservation and research initiatives in the
Management Area.
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