Palau's Politicians Appear Determined to Roll-Back Its Famous Marine Sanctuary; Some Opposition.....
Logical fallacies of House Bill 11-30-2S (amending PNMS)
by Leilani Reklai
April 1, 2022
House of Delegates’ standing committee’s report on its bill 11-30-2S, amending the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) law, cited examples of economic losses resulting from the 80% closure of the PNMS and calls for changes to the law to reclaim the losses.
The purpose of the bill 11-30-2S is said to “stimulate economic recovery” by permitting longline and purse seine fishing activities within Palau’s PNMS.
The examples of financial losses mentioned in the House Committee report and attributed to the PNMS 80% closure are false causes, assumptions that do not have anything to do with PNMS closure.
The false cause fallacy is generally defined as the “link between premises and conclusion depends on some imagined causal connection that probably does not exist”.
In the House Committee Report No. 11-48, page 2 states, “President Whipps confirmed our reliance on the ocean resources as a source of revenue and for food security. Because of this reliance, the Republic’s closure of 80% of its exclusive economic zone to fishing has not been without local consequences, such as increased tuna prices in the domestic market, overexploitation of reef fish, and a reduction in national revenue.”
This statement contains several false cause fallacies such as, “closure of 80% of its EEZ to fishing …increased tuna prices in the domestic market.” This can not be attributed entirely to the PNMS because the closure coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic that caused borders to close for nearly 2 years. The high cost of fuel, inability to export and reduced local demand contributed to the increase in prices of tuna in the domestic market.
The report also said that closure led to “overexploitation of reef fish” and “reduction in national revenue”. There are no reports of “overexploitation of reef fish”. Anecdotal evidence said that there are more fish and people were catching and seeing bigger fish closer to shore. In addition, OEK passed a law banning the export of any reef fish. With border closure and no tourists, the demand for fish, even reef fish dropped drastically. Most of the local restaurants in Palau were closed and the demand for reef fish was probably the lowest Palau has seen in over 30 years.
The conclusion made by the report that the national government lost revenue due to the closure of PNMS is also false. National government revenue was reduced due to a lack of tourists and not fishing. In 2019 for example, Palau earned about 600 thousand from fish export tax and over 8 million from fishing days fees. Palau continues to earn revenue from fishing days fees despite no fishing within 80% of Palau’s EEZ. In the same year, it earned nearly 2 million from PPEF (pristine paradise environmental fee) which is a fee created by the PNMS law and collected from travelers.
In 2020 when COVID came, Palau earned 157 thousand from fish export tax and 7.8 million from fishing days. This is after the closure of 80% of the PNMS. Palau still earned over 1 million in PPEF income despite no tourists for 9 months out of the year.
In 2021, Palau didn’t earn any fish export tax but it earned 8 million from fishing days fees, again despite no fishing in 80% of Palau waters. It received over 63 thousand in PPEF income.
Income from PPEF (PNMS sustainable financing mechanism) was doubled that of the fish export tax pre-covid. Due to covid, this income source was affected but income from fishing fees was not affected and in fact went up in 2021 over 2020.
The Committee Report also cited studies including one from Stanford Center for Oceans Solutions and the University of Hawaii at Manoa on the increase of ocean temperature due to climate change and its impact on marine life.
The Committee report concludes that climate change impact will drive away fish in Palau waters and if we don’t take the fish out now, we will lose them anyway. “Our rigid marine resources management laws contribute to food insecurity and ultimately, our conservation efforts are likely futile as the target species move to colder water waters open to fishing.”
This goes against numerous studies that have shown that having marine protected areas not only protect important habitats but also helps to restore the productivity of the oceans and avoid further degradation.
https://islandtimes.org/logical-fallacies-of-house-bill-11-30-2s-amending-pnms/
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House showing contempt to opposition
by Island Times
March 25, 2022
After opposing statements were made by members of the community against the proposal to allow fishing inside the PNMS restricted area, additional changes were made to the bill that some say shows House’s contempt to the opposition.
House of Delegates passed a revised version of the bill in the 2nd reading, removing PICRC’s administrative mandate under PNMS, reallocating the $5 from PPEF originally given to PICRC into the national treasury, changing the fishing zones to 70% fishing and 30% sanctuary, and allowing for oil drilling and operation. This version is allowing MAFE to conduct negotiations and execute fishing agreements and gives the President the authority to determine how long the fishing should continue instead of the 5-year temporary opening proposed in the first draft.
“This is House of Delegates showing contempt to the opposition to their proposal. Speaker Anastacio scolded and vilified the NGO representatives and the Palau International Coral Reef Center staff for their opposition. We expected that there will be retaliation and it happened here,” said a long-time observer of Palau’s politics.
“The message has been sent out: oppose us and you will be dealt with. We saw that with EQPB and now we are seeing it again with this bill. There is a sense of repression in this government now. People fear to say things that might go against government leaders now,” added the observer, who also believed he would be targeted for his statements if his identity was known.
The Committee report accompanying the version of the bill that passed the second reading also states that the closure of 80% of Palau EEZ has led to the creation and funding of non-government organizations, “neither of which have provided discernable direct benefit to the people and national government of Palau.”
At the public hearing, House Speaker Anastacio said that the non-government organizations were the only ones benefiting from PNMS while the people suffered.
This statement was countered by Madrengebuked Tommy Remengesau jr., who argued that NGOs such as Palau Conservation Society and Ebiil Society bring services to the people at the community level.
https://islandtimes.org/house-showing-contempt-to-opposition/
by Leilani Reklai
April 1, 2022
House of Delegates’ standing committee’s report on its bill 11-30-2S, amending the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) law, cited examples of economic losses resulting from the 80% closure of the PNMS and calls for changes to the law to reclaim the losses.
The purpose of the bill 11-30-2S is said to “stimulate economic recovery” by permitting longline and purse seine fishing activities within Palau’s PNMS.
The examples of financial losses mentioned in the House Committee report and attributed to the PNMS 80% closure are false causes, assumptions that do not have anything to do with PNMS closure.
The false cause fallacy is generally defined as the “link between premises and conclusion depends on some imagined causal connection that probably does not exist”.
In the House Committee Report No. 11-48, page 2 states, “President Whipps confirmed our reliance on the ocean resources as a source of revenue and for food security. Because of this reliance, the Republic’s closure of 80% of its exclusive economic zone to fishing has not been without local consequences, such as increased tuna prices in the domestic market, overexploitation of reef fish, and a reduction in national revenue.”
This statement contains several false cause fallacies such as, “closure of 80% of its EEZ to fishing …increased tuna prices in the domestic market.” This can not be attributed entirely to the PNMS because the closure coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic that caused borders to close for nearly 2 years. The high cost of fuel, inability to export and reduced local demand contributed to the increase in prices of tuna in the domestic market.
The report also said that closure led to “overexploitation of reef fish” and “reduction in national revenue”. There are no reports of “overexploitation of reef fish”. Anecdotal evidence said that there are more fish and people were catching and seeing bigger fish closer to shore. In addition, OEK passed a law banning the export of any reef fish. With border closure and no tourists, the demand for fish, even reef fish dropped drastically. Most of the local restaurants in Palau were closed and the demand for reef fish was probably the lowest Palau has seen in over 30 years.
The conclusion made by the report that the national government lost revenue due to the closure of PNMS is also false. National government revenue was reduced due to a lack of tourists and not fishing. In 2019 for example, Palau earned about 600 thousand from fish export tax and over 8 million from fishing days fees. Palau continues to earn revenue from fishing days fees despite no fishing within 80% of Palau’s EEZ. In the same year, it earned nearly 2 million from PPEF (pristine paradise environmental fee) which is a fee created by the PNMS law and collected from travelers.
In 2020 when COVID came, Palau earned 157 thousand from fish export tax and 7.8 million from fishing days. This is after the closure of 80% of the PNMS. Palau still earned over 1 million in PPEF income despite no tourists for 9 months out of the year.
In 2021, Palau didn’t earn any fish export tax but it earned 8 million from fishing days fees, again despite no fishing in 80% of Palau waters. It received over 63 thousand in PPEF income.
Income from PPEF (PNMS sustainable financing mechanism) was doubled that of the fish export tax pre-covid. Due to covid, this income source was affected but income from fishing fees was not affected and in fact went up in 2021 over 2020.
The Committee Report also cited studies including one from Stanford Center for Oceans Solutions and the University of Hawaii at Manoa on the increase of ocean temperature due to climate change and its impact on marine life.
The Committee report concludes that climate change impact will drive away fish in Palau waters and if we don’t take the fish out now, we will lose them anyway. “Our rigid marine resources management laws contribute to food insecurity and ultimately, our conservation efforts are likely futile as the target species move to colder water waters open to fishing.”
This goes against numerous studies that have shown that having marine protected areas not only protect important habitats but also helps to restore the productivity of the oceans and avoid further degradation.
https://islandtimes.org/logical-fallacies-of-house-bill-11-30-2s-amending-pnms/
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House showing contempt to opposition
by Island Times
March 25, 2022
After opposing statements were made by members of the community against the proposal to allow fishing inside the PNMS restricted area, additional changes were made to the bill that some say shows House’s contempt to the opposition.
House of Delegates passed a revised version of the bill in the 2nd reading, removing PICRC’s administrative mandate under PNMS, reallocating the $5 from PPEF originally given to PICRC into the national treasury, changing the fishing zones to 70% fishing and 30% sanctuary, and allowing for oil drilling and operation. This version is allowing MAFE to conduct negotiations and execute fishing agreements and gives the President the authority to determine how long the fishing should continue instead of the 5-year temporary opening proposed in the first draft.
“This is House of Delegates showing contempt to the opposition to their proposal. Speaker Anastacio scolded and vilified the NGO representatives and the Palau International Coral Reef Center staff for their opposition. We expected that there will be retaliation and it happened here,” said a long-time observer of Palau’s politics.
“The message has been sent out: oppose us and you will be dealt with. We saw that with EQPB and now we are seeing it again with this bill. There is a sense of repression in this government now. People fear to say things that might go against government leaders now,” added the observer, who also believed he would be targeted for his statements if his identity was known.
The Committee report accompanying the version of the bill that passed the second reading also states that the closure of 80% of Palau EEZ has led to the creation and funding of non-government organizations, “neither of which have provided discernable direct benefit to the people and national government of Palau.”
At the public hearing, House Speaker Anastacio said that the non-government organizations were the only ones benefiting from PNMS while the people suffered.
This statement was countered by Madrengebuked Tommy Remengesau jr., who argued that NGOs such as Palau Conservation Society and Ebiil Society bring services to the people at the community level.
https://islandtimes.org/house-showing-contempt-to-opposition/