Palau

Palau

  

Palau is an archipelago of more than 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean, well known for its scuba-diving and snorkeling sites. Northerly island Koror is home to the former capital, the majority of the population and the islands’ main commercial center. Neighboring Babeldaob has the modern capital, Ngerulmud, mountains and sandy beaches on its east coast.

The president of the tiny nation of Palau in the Pacific Ocean has declared that the entirety of the exclusive economic zone that surrounds it will become a marine protected area.

Tommy Remengesau Jr announced at a UN meeting on Healthy Oceans and Seas that all commercial fishing will be banned in the region to combat overexploitation of the world's fish populations.

"Once thought to be limitless, more than 80 percent of global fish stocks are now fully or overexploited," Remengesau Jr said. "Reckless and destructive fishing practices, overfishing, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing have robbed us of our resources. They must be stopped."