President Bush Urged to Create World's Largest Marine Sanctuary; 'Marine Equivalent of Yellowstone National Park'
Source > http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=78049210356 by Underwatertimes.com News Service email to a friend print this link to this article Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2006 22:10 EST) Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich in a letter to President Bush called attention to "a marvelous opportunity to leave a historic mark on U.S. and world conservation history." In the letter sent earlier this year, Gingrich urged the President to provide permanent protection to the remote chain of uninhabited islands, atolls, submerged banks and surrounding waters known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The proposed protected area stretches from the main Hawaiian Islands to Midway Atoll. Gingrich notes that it is specifically within the President's power to designate this area as a fully-protected coral reef ecosystem. It would be the largest such protected area in the world. "It is my hope that the President will use his executive power to protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary," said Gingrich. "In doing so, he would create the marine equivalent of Yellowstone National Park." Gingrich explained that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have many important features worthy of permanent conservation. Among its unique qualities, the archipelago: Among them, he pointed out that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands accounts for 10 percent of the coral reefs under U.S. jurisdiction; constitutes the most remote large-scale coral reef ecosystem on the planet, which is less impacted by pollution and use than are reefs closer to human populations; supports a tremendous number of coral reef species that are found only in the NWHI or in the larger Hawaiian Archipelago; harbors the highest proportion of un-described reef species (algae, corals, sponges, other invertebrates) of any reefs on the planet; comprises the largest seabird rookery in the United States, with about 6 million seabirds from more than 20 species breeding here; and provides critical habitat for several globally endangered or threatened seabird species, such as albatrosses. "The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have been the subject of presidential interest since Theodore Roosevelt established some of the islands as a bird sanctuary in 1909," said Gingrich in his letter. "Over the years, four other presidents--Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan and William Clinton-- have recognized the superlative conservation values of the area and provided increased protection to its resources." Gingrich praised Governor Linda Lingle who earlier this year responded to overwhelming public enthusiasm and designated all state waters in the Northwestern Island chain as a fully- protected state marine refuge. But Gingrich went on to say that in order to preserve one of the few remaining places on earth to learn about a coral reef ecosystem in its near-natural condition, we must offer federal protection. Text of Letter to the President White House Washington, DC Dear Mr. President: I write to call your attention to a marvelous opportunity to leave a historic mark on U.S. and world conservation history by providing permanent protection to the remote chain of uninhabited islands, atolls, submerged banks and surrounding waters known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which stretch from the main Hawaiian Islands to Midway Atoll. Specifically, it is within your power to designate this area as the largest fully-protected coral reef ecosystem in the world. By such action, a Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary would be the marine equivalent of Yellowstone National Park. The archipelago has a number of unique qualities that make it worthy of permanent conservation. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: -- account for 10 percent of the coral reefs out to 100 fathoms under U.S. jurisdiction; -- are the most remote large-scale coral reef ecosystem on the planet, and are less impacted by pollution and use than are reefs closer to human populations; -- are the least-impacted large marine ecosystem in U.S. waters, from which we can learn how coral reef ecosystems operate in a natural state; -- are a predator-dominated ecosystem, unlike all other large- scale coral reef ecosystems in which predator fish have been heavily depleted; -- support the highest degree of endemic coral reef species, meaning species that are found only in the NWHI or in the Hawaiian Archipelago (about 25 percent of all shallow water coral reef species in the NWHI are endemic); -- harbor the highest proportion of un-described reef species (algae, corals, sponges, other invertebrates) of any reefs on the planet; -- are home to the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, the only surviving marine mammal that is wholly dependent on coral reefs, and whose complete habitat is within U.S. waters (estimated population of 1300); -- comprise the largest seabird rookery in the United States, with about 6 million seabirds from more than 20 species breeding here, and provide critical habitat for several globally endangered or threatened seabird species, such as albatrosses; -- are the nesting grounds for more than 90 percent of green sea turtles in the Hawaiian Archipelago; and -- are culturally important to Native Hawaiians. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have been the subject of presidential interest since Theodore Roosevelt established some of the islands as a bird sanctuary in 1909. Over the years, four other presidents--Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan and William Clinton--have recognized the superlative conservation values of the area and provided increased protection to its resources. In 2000, the 84-million acre area was designated as a Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve by executive order At that time, Congress concurrently directed that a federal marine sanctuary designation be considered for the reserve area. This year, Governor Linda Lingle responded to overwhelming public comments and designated all state waters in the Northwestern Island chain as a fully-protected state refuge. She has called on the federal government to follow suit, and apply comparable protection to federal waters within the proposed sanctuary. In early December, the Governor highlighted her position by visiting Midway with James Connaughton and other federal officials. Your administration, under the leadership of the Secretary of Commerce, is now completing a sanctuary designation process. The stated purpose of the proposed sanctuary is "long-term protection of the marine ecosystems in their natural character." An enormous amount of public consultation has occurred, and a draft environmental impact statement is due to be issued by the Secretary in 2006. Expressed public sentiment favors full protection of the area. At issue is whether or not the sanctuary will be one that is fully protected from all extractive activities, such as commercial fishing, seabed mining, coral removal, and the like. The National Marine Sanctuaries System Act permits you to establish marine sanctuaries with varying degrees of protection, including full protection. Unlike the locations of existing marine sanctuaries, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are highly isolated, and have no inhabitants except wildlife and a few researchers. Designation of a fully protected sanctuary is achievable because no one lives in these remote islands. A small, economically marginal and shrinking fishery for bottomfish does take place in the area. However, the Department of Commerce recently announced that these species are experiencing overfishing. Thus, conditions are ripe to buy-out the nine fishing boats for fair and just compensation, an action called for by Governor Lingle. I cannot think of a better conservation opportunity for you than to complete the conservation work begun by Theodore Roosevelt. A decision to fully-protect the islands would be the highest and best use for the area, and would be widely acclaimed by Hawaiians and conservationists worldwide. Whether one is concerned about ecological integrity, coral reefs, seabirds, sea turtles, sharks, or reef fish, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands offers one of the few remaining places on earth to learn more about a coral reef ecosystem in its near-natural condition. As Peter Young, Director of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources said after his recent visit to the NWHI, "If there were ever a place on earth you wanted to see remain unchanged forever, this is it... The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands deserve the strongest protections and should be the place on earth where we don't take something." Sincerely, Newt Gingrich Cc: Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, The Honorable Daniel Inouye, The Honorable Daniel Akaka, The Honorable Neil Abercrombie, The Honorable Ed Case, The Honorable Linda Lingle email to a friend print this link to this article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UnderwaterTimes Global Newswire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Study: Coral reef reveals history of fickle weather in the central Pacific - May 16, 2006 23:02 EST Study: Exxon Valdez oil found in tidal feeding grounds of ducks, sea otters - May 16, 2006 22:45 EST Small Whale Stoned to Death in Manila Harbor After Being Mistaken for a Shark - May 16, 2006 21:55 EST Report: Salton Sea May Become Environmental Hazard without Restoration - May 16, 2006 21:49 EST Study: Global Warming May Have Damaged Coral Reefs Forever - May 15, 2006 21:53 EST Kenyan Authorities to Preserve Fish Carrying Koranic Message; 'God is Communicating with His People' - May 14, 2006 18:41 EST New 'Allah' Fish Discovered by Kenyan Fisherman; Tuna Inscribed with 'God is the Provider' - May 13, 2006 17:01 EST Precision Biochemistry Tracks DNA Damage in Fish; 'Very Sensitive Biomarkers' - May 12, 2006 16:43 EST 750-lb Hammerhead Shark Caught Off Florida Coast May Be World Record - May 12, 2006 16:18 EST Shark-Saving Magnets Pull in $25,000 Prize for American from International Smart Gear Competition - May 11, 2006 21:43 EST __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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