The Republic of Palau, a tropical archipelago in the Western Pacific, is renowned for its matchless island scenery, pristine dive sites, and world-famous natural features, including the Forest-Tufted Rock Islands and surreal Jellyfish Lake.
While 70 percent of Palau’s population lives on the main island of Koror, the entire nation consists of more than 300 islands, many of them entirely uninhabited. Given this unique geography, Palauans have traditionally worked to maintain a balance with the sea. The local custom of bul, for instance—practiced for generations—temporarily closes certain areas to fishing in order to allow marine life to recover.
After World War II, population growth and the intensification of fishing using modern technology began to take a toll on the undersea life of the area, and it became increasingly critical to take steps toward preserving Palau’s waters for generations to come. Aware of the country’s past and concerned about its future, in 2009 then President Johnson Toribiong declared the first shark sanctuary in the world.