On May 16, 2019, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism (MNRET), Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) Office and Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) held a PNMS Stakeholder Workshop. The workshop was attended by 38 participants from 20 agencies and organizations, including Bureau of Aging, Disability, and Gender, Conservation International, Coral Reef Research Foundation, Division of Marine Law Enforcement, Ebiil Society, Friends of the PNMS, Grants Office, Kerradel Conservation Network, Koror State Government, Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Tourism, National Environmental Protection Council, Office of Climate Change, Our Oceans 2020, Pacific Note, Palau Conservation Society, Palau Visitors Authority, PICRC, The PNMS Office, The Nature Conservancy, and the UN Office Palau. Ms. Umai Basilius from Palau Conservation Society facilitated the workshop, ensuring that it ran smoothly and every stakeholder had a chance to provide input.
PICRC Employee graduates with Associates Degree in Business Administration
On May 17, 2019, Palau International Coral Reef Center’s (PICRC) Facility & Equipment Assistant, Joy Shmull Sam graduated from Palau Community College (PCC) with an Associate Degree in Business Administration.
Mrs. Sam has been working in the Administration Department at PICRC for the past 11 years. Three years ago, she enrolled in this Associate Degree, and since she has worked hard to complete her course requirements while remaining a full-time employee. Through this degree program, Mrs. Sam learned about basic accounting theories, concepts on human management, economics, and financial management, and the operation responsibility of an organization to help improve efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace.
New PICRC technical report addresses the socio-economic impacts of the PNMS
In 2015, the Government of Palau made a promise to protect 500 thousand square kilometers of ocean by 2020 through the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) Act. With the enactment of the PNMS, Palau aims to reclaim its pelagic fisheries while easing the pressures on nearshore fish stocks. A new technical report released by Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) addresses knowledge gaps in the potential socio-economic impacts of the PNMS and suggests next steps to ensure the success of the Sanctuary. This project was led by Dr. Kirsten Oleson from the University of Hawaii with support from PICRC Researcher, Lincy Lee Marino and PICRC Policy/Development Coordinator, Andrea Uchel.
ROC (Taiwan) Embassy donates $2,000 to PICRCs 2020 Arts and Tides Calendar
On April 15, 2019, His Excellency, Wallace M.G. Chow, Ambassador of The Republic of China (Taiwan) to Palau, donated $2,000 to Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC). The donation will go towards the production of PICRC’s 2020 Arts and Tides Calendar. The donation was received gratuitously by PICRC CEO, Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, Director of Administration, Mingrang Kloulechad, Director of Aquarium, Ilebrang U. Olkeriil, Policy/Development Coordinator, Andrea Uchel, and Assistant Communications and Outreach Officer, Ines Kintoki.
Blue Bay continues to sponsor PICRC’s Summer Internship Program
On May 2, 2019, Blue Bay Petroleum Incorporated presented $5,000 to Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC). This generous donation will sponsor the 2019 PICRC Summer Internship Program and support hands-on learning for Palau’s youth.
The Summer Internship Program is an intensive, six-week program, intended to build capacity in young Palauans pursuing the field of marine biology. During the program, each intern will be responsible for an individual research project, with guidance from a PICRC researcher. Additionally, the interns will participate in a cultural immersion program to learn about traditional knowledge and conservation practices in Palau. Interns will also visit a number of conservation agencies to learn about career opportunities in Palau.
