In accordance to the recommendations stated by the Ministry of Health in MOH Directive No. 114-20, Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) is happy to announce that we will resume to normal business on May 18, 2020.

While the public will be able to access the Center’s facilities, such as the Giant Clam Gift Shop, conference rooms and general offices, the Palau Aquarium will remain closed until further notice due to current maintenance work.

PICRC’s first priority is protecting and limiting risk to all partners, collaborators, guests, and public at large. For this reason, cancelled programs will remain cancelled, outreach engagement will be limited, and precautionary measures, such as frequent handwashing and respiratory etiquette, will be maintained while visiting the Center.  We ask the public to please refrain from visiting the Center while sick. read more

The Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) has enlisted the help of Palau Conservation Society (PCS) to establish a working group that will take actions to develop a comprehensive communication strategy for the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS).  The PNMS was established in 2015 with the intention to be a collaborative effort between government, civil society, and the community to benefit Palau.  The development of this communication plan will fulfill this and begin an ongoing collective effort for communicating PNMS. The working group will consist of members from across different agencies and groups, both in the private and public sector. This group will help create a set of guidelines to ensure that new information is being given to the public regularly, and that feedback from the community is being considered. These guidelines will help communicate new information, engage leadership in Palau, and facilitate information-sharing amongst partners for effective implementation of PNMS. read more

Last month in April, Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) researchers completed the field work for the grouper aggregation study in several sites around Koror and Ngarchelong. The purpose of the research, led by PICRC researcher Lincy Lee Marino, is to understand the relationship between fishing pressure and its impact on three different grouper species which have seasonal fishing restrictions: meteungerel temekai (Brown-marbled grouper), ksau’l temekai (Camouflage grouper), and tiau (Squaretail coral grouper). The project is done in collaboration with Professor Peter Mumby of the University of Queensland, an adjunct researcher at PICRC. read more

On March 29, 2020, Palau International Coral Reef Center closed its doors to all visitors, including partners, collaborators, and guests, as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Even though the Center’s facilities are closed to the public until May 31^st, operations continue.

In order to offer a better experience, the Palau Aquarium has taken advantage of the closure by performing maintenance and deep cleaning of the tanks, pumps, and piping system. “Given the high levels of humidity and salinity, parts of the chiller system have rusted over the years,” stated Aquarist Mcgee Mereb, “We have also been working on restoring exhibits, like the seagrass tank,” he added. read more

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) has decided to extend the closure of its facilities to the general public until May 31, 2020 as a preventive measure against COVID-19.  Even though there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Palau, the Center’s decision follows a sense of responsibility to protect and limit risk to all partners, collaborators, guests and public at large. PICRC, will follow directives by the Office of the President, Ministry of Health, and the National Emergency Committee regarding mandatory actions to protect public health.  As such, when directives become less restrictive certain facilities might open earlier to the public before the aforementioned closure date. read more