Palau conservationist welcomes fish export ban
Updated
Palau's President has signed a bill which will ban the export of live reef fish.
Marianas Variety reports that the bill also contains penalties for selling aquarium fish to other countries.
Palau President Tommy Remengesau says the legislation seeks to preserve fish stocks and prevent the destruction of reef habitats.
Palau's Protected Areas Network Advisor, Eric Verhoij agrees.
He's told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the ecosystem is fragile and the ban is vital to protect it.
"With this bill, with the ban on the export of live reef fish (and) the spawning agregations, these species are protected from being really over exploited in Palau," he said.
