Moratorium on taking of any hawksbill turtle (RPPL No. 10-24 of 2017).

This Act amends 24 PNC 1281 to impose a ten-year moratorium on the taking of any hawksbill turtle. Section 1281 prohibits the taking or intentional killing of sea turtles of any species in certain periods of the year and under a specified size, but no hawksbill turtle shall be taken or intentionally killed, regardless of location or size of the turtle for a ten year period. During the moratorium period, no part of the hawksbill turtle may be used for any purpose, including but not limited to trade, consumption, import, or export, except for the existing use of the traditional "toluk" or women's money already in circulation as of the date of the enactment of this Act. The Ministry of Natural Resources shall prepare and submit to the Olbiil Era Kelulau and the President of the Republic a report of the research and monitoring efforts for the turtle population in Palau and a request for funding the continued research and monitoring efforts.