Hello divers,

We read some disturbing news in the latest on-line update from Undercurrent magazine. Undercurrent reports that Palau is considering permitting commercial fishing for sharks and shark finning in their waters, and even providing tax exemptions to the commercial fishermen. It would be incredibly sad to see another ecosystem destroyed by commercial fishing of sharks. We visited Utila, Honduras earlier this year, and found that commercial fishing there had emptied the waters of all the larger fish. We saw no sharks or other pelagics at all. The largest creatures that we saw were under the dock at the lodge. We would hate to see that happen at Palau, where one of the main attractions is the opportunity to see these large, graceful creatures in abundance in their natural habitat. If you are like us and want to do something to try to stop this, go to SharkSavers.org.(http://www.sharksavers.org/get-involved/sign-these-petitions/542-petition-to-palau-stop-senate-bill-8-44-on-shark-fishing.html) They have petition posted on their website asking the Palau’s politicians to not proceed with these bills. We hope they listen.

Dive safely and often,

Staff of Aquatic Adventures of MI