Environment News 22.8.14 Part IV: The presidential pen is poised – and soon – like before then end of 2014 soon - Obama will (hopefully) sign off in the biggest marine protected area (MPA) in the world – the 1 813,000 sq., km south-central Pacific Ocean MPA that will be off limits to fishing, resource exploration, and other economic activities. MPAs are now widely seen in the conservation community as effective ways to restore vitality to overfished areas, shelter and nurture fish in the quest to develop sustainable fisheries, and act as reservoirs of biodiversity and resilience in the face of global warming and ocean acidification. “They are the most practical tool we have available to us to protect ecosystems and keep them functioning and protect habitat from a range of human-based threats.” Says marine biologist, Tundi Agardy who added that, many nations are now seeing their benefits and that, for example, Scotland has just announced the doubling of the area of its marine reserves – including what purports to be the largest MPA in Europe and in February, Palau announced plans to extend full protections for marine life in some 80% of the waters embraced by its 200-mile exclusive economic zone. “These moves are part of an international effort under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to protect 10 percent of the world’s oceans by 2020.” He said. “But, so far, only about 1.8% of the world’s oceans are covered by some form of protection.” He also has concerns about how the MPA will be designed. “It needs to have no-take zone, be at least 168 sq., km in size, be well enforced, and be isolated by deep water or sand.” csmonitor/Science/2014/0820/White-House-could-announce-world-s-largest-marine-reserve-soon
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:37:15 +0000
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