eee epeeos
The SPC also scheduled a top leva put the Administration plans to send a
elopment
ries development
' promote and
pment and use of
the people of the
marine
recrea-
yrt fishing, skin
commercial fishaus shell, pearl
of Peace Corps
arine
Resources
m has opened
ipe, and Yap. In
unteer assists the
tative
with
its
nstruction prories Volunteer is
fisheries of the
‘cial attention to
rmerly lucrative
rer) fisheries of
meeting of fisheries experts in Koro? maller vessel to Truk soon to conduct
but it was canceled at the last minus long-range, follow-up investigation.
when transportation difficulties arose
Because a number of experts wer
Territory
una boat in the
maintenance of
Other Fisheries
direction of the
ygram, work in
lop the inshore
istricts to which
; Food and Agri(FAO) and the
mission
(SPC)
‘aining course in
The FAO staff
the course was
‘isheries Officer
nagement BiolTerritory.
Two
experts from
9k Islands inees from New
he Trust Terri-
Marine
Resources
Con* ere also conducted during the year.
ference was called instead to discug’,
j|{onolulu firm, specializing in devel-
development of marine resource pro’ opment of natural water resources,
grams.
gssisied with a thorough study of the
Offshore Fisheries Development
‘tion estimates were prepared to help
water resources of Dublon. Construc-
determine the most practical of the
The goals of the offshore fisheria”’ th yee sites selected and surveyed.
development program are to promot’
commercial exploitation of skipjack goatbuilding
tuna stocks by Micronesian fishermen’
to develop freezing, canning, and prof The boatbuilding program seeks to
cessing operations as well as boat! provide the necessary technical superbuilding and repair facilities at suitabk’ yjjon and assistance to develop the
locations throughout the Territory boatbuilding and drydockingindustry,
and to promote an increase in spon ang to meet the major construction
fishing for marlin, large tuna, ang’ and maintenance requirements for
other gamespecies.
wooden, molded-glass, steel, and ferrocement
ies Volunteer is
‘ew and engineer
site surveys for a commercial fish-
already in Koror or Guam. a Trus eries plant on Dublon, Truk District,
The major marine industry in th, ¢ymmercial
boats
operated
fishing
by
industry,
the
the
Trust Territory is the skipjack fishery Administration, and other commercial
in the Palau District which annual.”enterprises.
lands about 4,000 tons of fish, value
at
about
$420,000,
from
boat’
Boatbuilding and drydocking acti-
manned largely by Okinawan fisher vitivs continue at the Palau Shipyard.
"All operations remain under the supermen.
Rvision of the Trust Territory boat-
To prepare Micronesians for
building specialist who instructs
ever-increasing role in this fishery, the workers in modern boatbuilding and
Administration sponsors an advance repair techniques. More than 70 boats,
fisheries training program in Hawaf . ranging in size from 8 to 45 feet, were
where Micronesian fishermen work .built during the year for use throughskipjack boats operating out
out the Trust Territory and Guam in
Hawaii.
‘fishing, hauling copra, carrying freight
and passengers, and serving as supply,
Because live bait is essential fog
support, and recreational vessels.
skipjack fishing, the program attempt About 23 workers were employed at
to explore the availability of live baif the shipyard and sales totaled
in the Territory. During the reporting£ $137,181.
period, the Government tuna ve
was used to conduct a survey in Tr
The working area at the shipyard
to determine the availability and abur, exceeds 10,000 square feet. A doubledance of the local bait species. Thi decked warehouse, a large loft, consurvey produced inconclusive “| Crete. work dock with heavy duty
Part VI—Economic Advancemenf Fiscal Year 1968
crane,
one
construction and repair
ways, one repair ways, and one small
boat ramp are in use. A small machine
shop added during the year is being
enlarged as demand warrants. All commercial fishing vessels and most
Government and private boats in the
Palau area are maintained at the yard.
New construction continues at a
rapid pace. The shipyard is now for-
mulating plans to begin building ferrocement boats, barges, and pontoons
for bridges and floats. In addition,
plans to start construction of moldedglass hulls for vessels in the 14 to 25
foot range are being studied.
Inquiries and orders for boats ranging up to 45 feet have come from as
far away as Hawaii, Samoa, and Tahiti.
Efforts are being made to determine
the feasibility of developing these
markets and whether suitable shipping
arrangements can be made.
Biological and
Oceanographic Research
The goal of the marine research
program is to establish in Palau
District a marine biological research
laboratory which will increase knowledge of phenomenarelated to inshore
and offshore waters of the Territory.
The laboratory will provide access to
this rich biotic province at a particularly favorable place, will include
research and housing facilities for
visiting scientists, and will undertake
long-range applied and basic research
projects to obtain the scientific
information required to foster development and conservation of the Territory’s marine resources. A number of
universities and agencies have indicated a desire to conduct marine research programsin Palau if laboratory
facilities can be provided.
65
ER IES TEENS | TUREEE