Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Micronesian state establishes shark protection in its waters

Posted at 21:17 on 21 September, 2012 UTC

Kosrae has become the first member of the Federated States of Micronesia to establish shark protections in its waters.

The unanimous vote by the legislature in Kosrae ties into efforts to create the world’s largest regional shark sanctuary, the Micronesia Challenge.

During last year’s Micronesian Chief Executive Summit, Kosrae Governor Lyndon Jackson and other leaders pledged to create an over 2.9 million square kilometre Micronesia Regional Shark Sanctuary.

The agreement includes all four members of the FSM-Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae-as well as the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

When signed into law, the Kosrae sanctuary will ban the sale, trade, and possession of shark products in Kosrae and prohibit commercial shark fishing in the 20-kilometre area under its jurisdiction.