Marine Projects 2002-2004

Our marine protection program was launched in 2002 by conducting on-site threats and needs assessments of Marine Protected Areas in the Republic of Palau and in Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia. In 2003, we worked closely with the Minister of Justice in the Republic of Palau to obtain a Presidential Order to create a Marine Environmental Enforcement Response Team (MEERT), which focuses on developing better coordination between enforcement authorities at the national, local, and traditional levels. We agreed to provide funding for the Team Coordinator for two years, while efforts were made at the national level to fund the position on a permanent basis. In its first year, MEERT received a significant award from the Palau Tourism Bureau.

In early 2004, we continued our support to the Republic of Palau by providing GPS training and developing a law enforcement management system based on GIS mapping tools for the National Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection.  We sponsored a marine enforcement workshop in Palau in January to provide GPS training, monitor the effectiveness of new enforcement strategies and recommendations, review the progress of the MEERT and work with stakeholders in developing new recommendation for protection of the Marine Sanctuaries in Palau.
 
Pohnpei, one of four island States which make up the Federated States of Micronesia, is a focal area of our work. During 2003, Wildlife Alliance and the Conservation Society of Pohnpei sponsored law enforcement training for Pohnpei's newly-formed Marine Conservation Unit. We also supplied the Unit with night vision binoculars, GPS units and other much-needed equipment. The training was the first of its kind in Pohnpei conservation history and the first in a series of events planned to improve protection of Pohnpei State's Marine Sanctuaries through training and improved coordination between law enforcement agencies.

In early 2004, we expanded these efforts in Pohnpei by coordinating a marine enforcement workshop for the Marine Conservation Unit with officers from various government agencies and local NGOs in Pohnpei. The presence of several key government officials from Palau was a significant factor in the formation of new joint recommendations for future marine enforcement cross-training between marine enforcement agencies in the two countries.