Bush's environmental legacy?
Not sure how I missed this yesterday:
President Bush on Tuesday established three new national monuments in the Pacific Ocean, setting aside for permanent protection pristine coral reefs, the world's deepest underwater canyon and marine environments teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, manta rays and giant clams...
"It's one of the most important moves in marine conservation in recent decades."
The move follows a similar action by Bush in 2006 to establish a new monument in the northern Hawaiian islands. Combined with the latest announcement, Bush has now protected more ocean area than any president in history.
Tuesday's monuments total 195,000 square miles, an area 36 times the size of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and more than 20 percent larger than California.
Reuters news said you couldn't drill there, but didn't you couldn't fish - or is it me not understanding what a monument stands for?
Can someone confirm whether or not fishing will be forbidden in this area?
Posted by: Carlos Ferreira | January 07, 2009 at 09:51 AM
Carlos,
The National Marine Sanctuary program does not regulate fishing (so fishing is allowed under the program). But, NOAA does regulate fishing and it's possible that fishing could be banned in a snctuary (although I don't know for this case).
Posted by: Tim Haab | January 07, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Tim,
Thanks for that.
Cheers!
Posted by: Carlos Ferreira | January 07, 2009 at 10:24 AM
That Hawaiian Islands one got it's funding cut by 80% didn't it? http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/executive/2008-08-07-Bush-Hawaii_N.htm
Posted by: Apollo | January 07, 2009 at 09:50 PM
That Hawaiian Islands one got it's funding cut by 80% didn't it? http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/executive/2008-08-07-Bush-Hawaii_N.htm
Posted by: Apollo | January 07, 2009 at 09:50 PM