CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS

Overall, the reefs of Palau are in good condition when compared to nearby island nations surveyed on the GRE. The conservation efforts by the people of Palau appear to be having a positive effect (Figure 26). When looking at both fish and benthic communities, the forereefs presented better metrics when compared to lagoon sites, indicating a more stable ecosystem. While many of the differences between sites inside and outside of the lagoon may be based on inherent ecological differences between the two reef zones, the patterns in Koror suggest that human population density is having a negative impact on reefs inside the lagoon in Palau, likely due to increased fishing pressure and/or land-based pollution (Figures 23-25) .

In Palau, majority of the conservation efforts are focused inside of the lagoon surrounding Babeldaob which is where most of the tourism and fishing activities occur. As many of the MPAs are small in size, it may also be useful to establish fish size and catch regulations to help reduce fishing pressure of these nearshore lagoonal reefs. It may be prudent to consider increasing protection in areas adjacent to large population centers, such as around Koror to be more restrictive and expand no-take, no-entry area size to allow for recovery of fish populations.

Natural disturbances, such as coral bleaching events, storms, and ocean acidification are expected to worsen in the coming years. Protocols for mitigating these disturbances are currently missing from many of the management plans put forth by state governments. While prioritizing management of fisheries is important, mitigating the benthic communities should also be addressed. Groups from the Palau International Coral Reef Center have been monitoring sites impacted by typhoons Bopha and Haiyan and are working to understand recovery of the reefs following these two disturbances. Their findings, when released, should be referenced when expanding and updating current management plans, particularly for areas directly impacted by these storms.

KSLOF commends the people of Palau for the prioritizing conservation of its marine resources. Expansion of current management plans to encapsulate the threats facing benthic habitats along with potential mitigation strategies and additional fisheries management regulations such as size and catch limits will help ensure the longevity of the coral reefs and fish communities for generations to come.

PALAU’S CONSERVATION EFFORTS, SUCH AS ESTABLISHING MPAS LIKE THE ROCK ISLAND SOUTHERN LAGOON MANAGEMENT AREA, APPEAR TO BE HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT ON CORAL REEFS.