Colonia, YAP. The satellite phone connection was shaky as the voice on the other end asked for help. Two commercial boats had been bottom fishing with hooks and lines in the waters around Fedrai, one of four inhabited islands in Yap’s Ulithi atoll, filling the holds with live catch. The boats had arrived on Jan. 3 and the Chinese crews were overfishing the waters, the caller said. No one on the remote atoll had been told about the operation. He had a copy of the contract tha

The Palau government filed on Dec. 2 a civil action suit against the owner of seized Philippine fishing vessel suspected of conducting illegal fishing in the nation's waters. Civil Action No. 16-112 seeks forfeiture of vessel Gene 8, with the government also asking the court to order the vessel to pay a fine for illegally fishing in Palau waters. Palau seeks court order to take the fishing vessel found within its waters on Nov.18. “The listed property is subject to forfeitu

Palau’s PSS Remeliik marine law officers seized a suspected Philippine illegal fishing vessel that is believed to be “a mother ship.” Acting Attorney General Evan Robbins told Pacific Note that on Nov. 16, the patrol boat went to conduct its regular sea patrol from east to south of Palau’s exclusive economic zone. The vessel Gene No.8, was found 45 miles North West of Helen Reef two days later. Suspected illegal "mother ship" escorted back to the Marine Law in Koror for fur

Palau destroyed another Vietnamese fishing boat caught poaching in its waters, with the island nation warning that it is imposing a zero tolerance policy against illegal fishing. On May 25, the blue boat seized last month was set on fire miles of the coast of Palau, sending an even stronger message that it is serious against its fight to combat illegal fishing. “As I’ve said in the past, we will not tolerate poachers in Palau,” said President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. “Now th

Apparently, the message was not clear enough, so Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. wants to make it clearer. At today’s press press conference, Remengasau announced that the Vietnamese boats apprehended last month will be burned. Remengesau said the plan to dispose of the boats is to either give one to the community or burn the rest. On April 16, Palau law enforcement captured two Vietnamese “blue boats” suspected of illegally fishing in Palau waters. Two more Vietnamese

Palau’s marine law enforcers apprehended two Vietnamese “blue boats” fishing vessels with 29 crewmembers suspected of illegal fishing in Palau waters, April 16. Maritime Surveillance Advisor – Palau, LCDR Ben Fennell said that the capture of the blue boats is part of Operation Rai Balang, a regional fisheries surveillance undertaking. Palau Marine law enforcers detain 29 crewmembers of the "Blue Boats" captured during the regional marine surveillance. Photo by Ongerung Kambe