Protected Areas Network (PAN) Act 2015 (P.L. 2015-48).

This Act amends Title 35 of the Code of the Marshall Islands by providing for a Protected Areas Network (PAN). "Protected Area" means an area designated through a local or national process to be protected by the National Government through the Ministry of Resources and Development as part of the PAN. Each area included in the Protected Areas Network will be eligible for assistance and support under this Act. The PAN shall be administered by the Ministry of Resources and Development and managed by Local Resources Committees. There is hereby established a PAN Office within the Ministry of Resources and Development and there is established a Technical Advisory Committee. Each Protected Area, wherever practicable and where desired by the local community shall have a Local Resources Committee (LRC) as soon as possible.
Protected areas shall only be of two types: (a) Type I - Subsistence only; (b) Type II - High level of protection. Type I is managed for subsistence use. Limited commercial use (including aquaculture) may be made of species that are native to the area and of high value if there are no associated environmental impacts on habitat quality in accordance with 13 guidelines produced by the PAN Office. Type II is subject to no-take or a very low level of subsistence or special occasion activities with no commercial use. LRC's shall initiate the formulation and approval of a management plan for its area and carry out other duties as prescribed. The Act also provides with respect to enforcement and regulation-making powers of the Ministry of Resources and Development and defines offences.