Editing Palau (section)

===Shark sanctuary===
On 25&nbsp;September 2009, Palau announced that it would create the world's first [[shark sanctuary]].<ref name="Palau creates world's first shark haven">{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=508795&publicationSubCategoryId=200|title=Palau creates world's first shark haven|date=26 September 2009|access-date=28 September 2009|work=[[The Philippine Star]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104125625/http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=508795&publicationSubCategoryId=200|archive-date=4 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Palau banned all commercial shark fishing within the waters of its [[exclusive economic zone]]. The sanctuary protects about {{convert|600000|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} of ocean,<ref>{{Cite news|date=25 September 2009
| author= Richard Black
|title= Palau pioneers 'shark sanctuary'|url=http://usproxy.bbc.com/2/hi/science/nature/8272508.stm
| work = BBC News
|access-date=15 January 2023|archive-date=1 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001201027/http://usproxy.bbc.com/2/hi/science/nature/8272508.stm|url-status=dead}}</ref> a similar size to France.<ref name="Palau's EEZ becomes shark sanctuary"/><ref name="World's first shark sanctuary created by Pacific island of Palau">{{Cite news|author=Sophie Tedmanson|url=https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6848627.ece|title=World's first shark sanctuary created by Pacific island of Palau|date=26 September 2009|access-date=28 September 2009|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111081427/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6848627.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="France-Size Shark Sanctuary Created -- A First">{{cite web|author=Ker Than|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090925-sharks-sanctuary-palau.html|title=France-Size Shark Sanctuary Created – A First|date=25 September 2009|access-date=28 September 2009|work=[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]]|archive-date=10 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110105831/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090925-sharks-sanctuary-palau.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> President [[Johnson Toribiong]] announced the sanctuary at a meeting of the United Nations.<ref name="Palau's EEZ becomes shark sanctuary">{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/27/content_12117618.htm|title=Palau's EEZ becomes shark sanctuary|date=27 September 2009|access-date=28 September 2009|agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930054317/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/27/content_12117618.htm|archive-date=30 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="Palau creates shark sanctuary to protect tourism and prevent overfishing">{{cite web|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=49344|title=Palau creates shark sanctuary to protect tourism and prevent overfishing|date=27 September 2009|access-date=28 September 2009|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]]|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111081424/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=49344|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Palau to Ban Shark Fishing">{{Cite news|author=Cornelia Dean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/science/earth/25shark.html|title=Palau to Ban Shark Fishing|date=24 September 2009|access-date=28 September 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111081425/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/science/earth/25shark.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Toribiong proposed a worldwide ban on fishing for sharks.<ref name="Palau's EEZ becomes shark sanctuary"/> In 2012, Palau received the Future Policy Award from [[World Future Council]], because "Palau is a global leader in protecting marine ecosystems".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/tiny-nation-of-palau-proves-sharks-worth-more-alive-than-dead/551759 |work=Jakarta Globe |title=Tiny Nation of Palau Proves Sharks Worth More Alive Than Dead |date=22 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027025150/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/tiny-nation-of-palau-proves-sharks-worth-more-alive-than-dead/551759 |archive-date=27 October 2012 }}</ref>