Tell the State Department to Stand Up for Marine Reserves 12APR12

WHILE our government has improved it's stewardship of the oceans in our EEZ http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
more can and should be done, especially to protect whales along our East coast and the entire Alaskan marine ecosystem. And now we have the American government standing in the way of an international agreement establishing a network of marine reserves. Check this out from Greenpeace and click the link to participate in their campaign to change this American government policy.

Tell the State Department that you care about the health of our oceans and urge them to either take the lead on establishing a network of marine reserves or to get out of the way this summer. There’s almost no protection at all for the world’s oceans. And it shows... Companies like Chicken of the Sea are pushing some tuna and shark species to the brink of extinction in the Pacific Ocean with their destructive fishing practices. Industrial fishing vessels are destroying the breathtaking coral habitats of the Bering Sea canyons and putting an entire ecosystem at risk. Japanese, Icelandic and Norwegian whaling vessels continue to ignore international law and kill thousands of majestic whales from the Southern Ocean to the North Atlantic each year. These challenges can be addressed together with a single solution — a network of fully protected marine reserves. So why is the State Department standing in the way? It’s time they took action to protect our oceans. Urge them to take the lead in establishing a network of marine reserves before it’s too late. Right now, less than one percent of the world’s oceans are set aside as marine reserves. That’s why we’re working on a global agreement which would allow the international community to establish a network of marine reserves on the high seas. Unfortunately, the US government seems to be standing in the way of these efforts by refusing to join along with other countries who are in favor of developing a new agreement to create a network of marine reserves. The high seas are like the Wild West at the moment. It might be good for the companies that are making billions off the destruction, but it is killing our oceans. If we don’t start protecting and managing our oceans they aren’t going to survive. Marine reserves are a proven and cost effective tool for protecting biodiversity, rebuilding fish populations, and enhancing fisheries in surrounding areas. The best chance we have to get the international community on the right path toward creating a network of protected areas is this summer in Brazil. The US delegation is developing their position right now. It’s the perfect time to let them know you are paying attention. A global network of fully protected marine reserves would benefit sea turtles, whales, tuna, seals, narwhals and any other creature (including humans) that you can think of. We’ll be at the meetings this summer working hard for this outcome. Without your support, it won’t matter. Send your letter to the State Department today and tell them that we need the US to join the G77, the European Union, and most of the rest of the world in standing up for marine reserves. Thanks for your help. John Hocevar Greenpeace USA Ocean Campaign Director
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