Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000
Palau
The isolated island group known at Ngerukewid or Seventy Islands in the southern lagoon
has been a protected area since 1956, and the Rock Islands are now protected by the Koror
State. Other conservation areas are being negotiated in partnership with the national
government. The Palau Conservation Society is active in conservation, and collaborates on
monitoring and assessment programmes with the Coral Reef Research Foundation, the Palau
Community College, the Environmental Quality Protection Board and the Marine Resources
Division. The Nature Conservancy also has an office on Palau, and works with the other
organisations on coral reef conservation. Palau has substantial expertise, but not financial resources.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES, LAWS AND LEGISLATION
American Samoa
Legislation is in place for water quality standards, land use regulations, waste disposal,
fishery management, habitat protection, endangered species, protected areas, ship
pollution and other environmental issues. Environmental violations are more frequently
detected and prosecuted, but enforcement of these regulations is not widespread and
many problems persist. Local environmental agencies have also undertaken aggressive
education programmes to increase community understanding of environmental issues. This
effort is commendable, but it is difficult to keep pace with the territory’s rapidly growing
population and concurrent development pressures.
Northern Marianas
Coral reefs are protected through a variety of regulations and requirements. The permit
requirements established by the Coastal Resources Management Agency contain provisions
to ensure minimal impact to marine resources. Likewise, the water quality standards and
requirements were established by the Division of Environmental Quality to protect marine
waters and thereby limit the damage to reefs from marine pollution, sedimentation and
nutrient loading. The Division of Fish & Wildlife is the agency with primary authority for
developing and implementing regulations regarding protection of living marine resources.
Guam
The natural resource laws which protect coral reef resources are presented in two statutory
laws, which are relatively old and have not been revised for over 20 years e.g. coral is
considered under the definition of a fish, because at that time, the only people likely to
have an impact were fishermen. Now the statutory laws regulate coral collection and have
penalties for damage when fishing. Coral collecting requires a permit, but no permits have
been issued since 1982. This same law (5 GCA chapter 63) also regulates fish net mesh
sizes and illegal chemical and explosive use in coastal waters. Recently the Division of
Aquatic and Wildlife Resources amended and expanded the existing fishing regulations
(Title 16) to contain size restrictions and seasons for aquatic fauna, and proper definitions
of corals etc. A major component of these new regulations are the rules for the 5 new
permanent marine reserves. These areas account for nearly 12% of Guam’s coastline as notake
fisheries areas, with violations being treated as a petty misdemeanour. The Guam
Environmental Protection Agency has local water quality standards, which they enforce
with fines of up to US$10,000 a day. The Seashore Protection Commission has authority
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