On Friday, President Barack Obama expanded the largest ecologically protected space in in Hawaii. It now encompasses 500,000 square miles.
This quadrupled the size of the Papahanaumokuakea (pronounced “Papa-ha-now-moh-koo-ah-kay-ah”) Marine National Monument. It is located in the northern Hawaiian Islands. President George W. Bush created the monument a decade ago.
Scientists and environmentalists have been fighting for stronger protections for the rich wildlife in the area.
Here's what Obama's move to expand protected waters off Hawaii actually does: https://t.co/gnJjO90fSu pic.twitter.com/YS5AjLSIuW
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 26, 2016
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said:
“The oceans are the untold story when it comes to climate change, and we have to feel a sense of urgency when it comes to protecting the ocean that sustains us.”
Any commercial fishing is now illegal in this area. You can get federal permits if you want to fish recreationally or conduct scientific research.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said President Obama:
“…Would be happy to sign into law a piece of legislation that would have protected these waters, but we haven’t seen that kind of legislative activity in this Congress, and it means the president has had to make more effective use of his executive authority.”
Obama will announce this in Hawaii at the World Conservation Congress’ International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) on Wednesday.
Obama creates the largest protected place on the planet, off Hawaii! https://t.co/RWJfIPScQy #MahaloObama #BlueParks pic.twitter.com/TaZBw3HXXt
— Mission Blue (@MissionBlue) August 27, 2016
A spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said:
“This historic action taken today by President Obama ensures that one of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems will be preserved and protected for future generations.”
These ecosystems need to be preserved. There are so many new discoveries every day. We can’t let pollution stop our progress with studying these creatures.
Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi, along with former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano, and former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, a Native Hawaiian, wrote a letter in July saying:
“Hawaii is the only State in the union comprised of small islands surrounded by the ocean and remotely located thousands of miles from any other land mass. We depend on the ocean for food, livelihood, recreation, and the perpetuity of traditional native Hawaiian cultural practices.”
Check out this very educational video of the monument:
Featured image via YouTube Video.
