Palau's fisheries minister says they are trying to find a balance between conservation protection and production when it comes to the country's marine sanctuary.
The government has come under fire in recent months for its plans to reopen the Palau National Marine Sanctuary to commercial fishing.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Steven Victor, says for many years Palau has been very ambitious in the protection of the environment with 80 percent of the marine sanctuary closed off to fishing.
But he says the radical approach is proving detrimental to good socioeconomic outcomes.
He spoke with RNZ Pacific manager, Moera Tuilaepa Taylor in Palau, she began by asking about the significance of Palau and the US co-hosting the Our Ocean conference which opens in Koror tomorrow.
The sanctuary will fully protect about 80 percent of the nation’s maritime territory. Photo: The Pew Charitable Trusts
