PALAU, Babeldaob Island, Ngemai Reef - December 1999
Provide demarcation buoys and signage and train local rangers to monitor the Ngemai No-Take Marine Reserve
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Ngemai Reef off Palau's Babeldaob Island was once a rich and abundant source of underwater life, including sea urchin, a delicacy know in Palau as ichubel. A recent underwater survey of the reef found not a single ichubel. In response to alarm over the state of Ngemai's marine resources the Ngemai Conservation Area was established in June 1997. Modeled after the ancient Palauan custom of Bul, for a minimum of five years no fish or marine organisms may be harvested from the area. Because of inadequate training and equipment needed to monitor the area, there has been significant encroachment by fishermen. With the assistance of the Palau Conservation Society (PCS), this project has helped fund the purchase and installation of 16 demarcation buoys, appropriate signage and fund the training of two rangers from the local community to monitor the area.
UPDATE November 2003 - The legislative protection for Ngemai expired in mid-2002. However, the traditional Bul protection imposed by the chiefs has remained in effect. PCS has drafted a comprehensive "reef to ridge" conservation program at Ngemai, and hopes to have the plan adopted by the legislature at their upcoming session.
UPDATE July 2005 - The legislature decided not to reinstate Ngemai as a conservation area in late 2003. In spite of these setbacks, PCS has continued to work to keep Ngemai as a conservation area and plans to hold community meetings in the second half of 2005 to encourage efforts for maintaining protections.
