Japan’s Ambassador to Palau, His Excellency Hiroyuki Orikasa, has called on the Palauan government to swiftly approve an amendment to the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) law, warning that failure to do so could end a century-old fishing relationship between Okinawa and Palau.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Minatobashi Bridge renovation project on July 16, Ambassador Orikasa tied Japan’s long-standing support for Palau to ongoing economic and diplomatic cooperation, including fishing rights.
“As a Japanese ambassador, I sincerely request for swift approval of the PNMS amendment bill,” Orikasa stated during his remarks. “If the PNMS amendment bill is not approved, Japanese fishing boats that have continued for over 100 years may no longer be able to fish in Palau waters from next year.”
