Palau says joining the British/American-developed Project Eyes on the Seas monitoring system is an important step towards conserving the Western Pacific's tuna fishery.
Palau is hoping to ban commercial fishing in its entire EEZ. Photo: RNZI
Palau's move comes after President Tommy Remengesau sought assistance with an enforcement plan for its proposed Palau National Marine Sanctuary.
The proposal bans commercial fishing by foreign vessels in eighty percent of Palau's exclusive economic zone.
The President's deputy press secretary, Olkeriil Kazuo, says Project Eyes on the Sea is able to locate any vessel, monitor it and make contact with the national patrol boat to intercept it and bring it in.
"The Pacific Ocean accounts for sixty to seventy percent of the world's tuna resource. We should all come together and try and regenerate these depleting resources, and conservation is the key to that effort."
