News
Good News For The Environment
It was 2009 when President Bush declared the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The islands received then the same level of protection as statues or cultural sites.
Now President Obama has signalled that he will extend the area that will be off limits to fishing and mineral exploitation to the limit of US economic control, that is some 200 nautical miles around the islands. Scientists, fishing and conservation organisations will be consulted for a final decision about the size of the area, that could cover up 2 million sq. km.
It is interesting to note that according to President Obama, protecting marine areas isn't just a good idea for the environment, it makes good economic sense as well. "If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won't just be squandering one of humanity's greatest treasures, we will be cutting off one of the worlds major sources of food and economic growth," he said.
Last year attempts to create a significant marine reserve in Antarctica failed when Russia blocked plans by the US and others for the third time.
Now President Obama has signalled that he will extend the area that will be off limits to fishing and mineral exploitation to the limit of US economic control, that is some 200 nautical miles around the islands. Scientists, fishing and conservation organisations will be consulted for a final decision about the size of the area, that could cover up 2 million sq. km.
It is interesting to note that according to President Obama, protecting marine areas isn't just a good idea for the environment, it makes good economic sense as well. "If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won't just be squandering one of humanity's greatest treasures, we will be cutting off one of the worlds major sources of food and economic growth," he said.
Last year attempts to create a significant marine reserve in Antarctica failed when Russia blocked plans by the US and others for the third time.