Environment

Bush to create three marine monuments

by Barbara Mathieson | January 6, 2009 at 06:25 am

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Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times A researcher counts fish near a coral reef at Palmyra Atoll, south of the Hawaiian Islands. The monument designations will ban most commercial fishing and will vastly limit recreational fishing, or fishing by indigenous people or researchers. In all of the protected areas, seafloor mining will be prohibited.
A president who had been assailed by environmentalists will have set aside more square miles of ocean for protection than any other political leader. By Kenneth R. Weiss
January 6, 2009 President Bush will create three national monuments in the Pacific Ocean today, protecting waters near U.S.-controlled islands that contain some of the world's richest diversity of corals, fish and other sea life as well as unusual geological formations in the deepest undersea trench.

With the stroke of a pen this afternoon, Bush will have set aside more square miles of ocean for protection than any other political leader in history.

Thanks, Bush. I never thought that I would say that.

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Paschen

at 06:57 on January 6th, 2009

Well, at least one good thing he did. And I never though I would say that either.

lefty_liberated

at 07:27 on January 6th, 2009

It's the least he can do with all the oil spills his favored industry creates.

poor oligarch (not verified)

at 07:50 on January 6th, 2009

Criticism has already been levelled at Bush in response that this is mere gesture politics seen against his refusal to address climate change.

"Unless we deal with global warming, all other protective measures for coral reefs will be rendered meaningless," he said.

"Ultimately, Bush's legacy as a climate criminal will far outweigh his ocean legacy, as any benefit coral reefs receive from this monument designation will be bleached away by warming seas."

US vows 'huge' marine protection
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Amy Judd

at 10:00 on January 6th, 2009

This is actually really amazing on his part I think. I assumed after his lack of movement on the Endangered Species Act, that he wouldn't be doing anything else to deal with climate change before he left office, but this is a nice move for him.

harringtola

at 12:39 on January 6th, 2009

Is this to save his legacy?

Amy Judd

at 12:53 on January 6th, 2009

I think so, although it's slightly too late now!

SpikeKeller6

at 18:34 on January 6th, 2009

Aloha !

SpikeKeller6 has contributed a photo to this story.

kanoahelms

at 02:13 on January 8th, 2009

I took that photo of Dillingham Airfield and Mokuleia beach on Oahu. This whole area has amazing diving, surfing, fishing, swimming, hiking and camping. Many scenes on Lost were filmed right here in this view as the glider descended toward the runway. In the distance is Waialua and Haleiwa. Mt. Ka'ala is on the right and the backbone of the Ko'olaus in the far distance. See more of my photos of Mokuleia or our Glider Ride over Kaena Point.

rustyjd211

at 13:25 on January 11th, 2009

That is so good. Only 7% of the ocean holds such rich areas for marine life, but the greatest populations live in these areas. I was amazed at the amount of change in the waters around Hawaii since just a few years ago when I visited. I noted a DRAMATIC drop in fish. I hope some of the most popular places like here do more to protect the environment. I think overfishing and runoff from the farms nitrogen fertilizer does alot of damage to the fish.