The World's Largest Marine Preserve

[dlndavid]

Earth Observation System Will Revolutionize Understanding Of How Earth Works
U.S. Spearheads Global Initiative

Over the next decade, a global Earth Observation System will revolutionize our understanding of the Earth and how it works. With benefits as broad as the planet itself, this U.S.-led initiative promises to make peoples and economies around the globe healthier, safer and better equipped to manage basic daily needs. The aim is to make 21st century technology as interrelated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects, providing the science on which sound policy and decision-making must be built.
read more here
http://www.pco.noaa.gov/documents/EARTHOBSFACTSHEET.doc

 

[Jim Ernst]

can't stand it can you Hum?

david, because of your avtar, you owe me a magarita!!!! mask on forehead!!!:mooner: lol thought id say hello

 

[dlndavid]

david, because of your avtar, you owe me a magarita!!!! mask on forehead!!!:mooner: lol thought id say hello

Hi Jim

 

[Jon C]

"...one country, indivisible...."

Apparently the environment isn't the only thing that needs healing....

We just received some of the best news in years regarding a fragile and precious part of the planet and we still sink to this blather. Pity.

Thanks to those taking the high road on this (and you in the silent majority).

 

[RICoder]

Ergo my previous statement about how I like the fact that the "colorful" mix of people I dive with don't talk politics.

Did I miss something in this article? I can't seem to find a map of the new park/marine reserve, and I'd like to see it.

On a similar note, I went to St. Croix last month and had the chance to snorkle on Buck Island. It was interesting, but I found it a bit disturbing that part of being a national park, it had stone/metal markers submerged along the reef. These markers had information on them about habitat and fish species and were about 4ftx3ft and stood nearly 4ft from the bottom. I felt like I was at a zoo, not observing nature in its purity. I hope this does not happen to Hawai'i as well.

 

[dlndavid]

link to map
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2644.htm

 

[LeFlaneur]

It has been moving toward greater and greater protection since 1909.
Teddy Roosevelt designated some outer islands as bird sancutaries, Bill Clinton made it a Coral Reef Reserve and now George W. Bush has made it a Marine Reserve. It has had supporters and detractors on both sides of the aisle, with most detractors citing the impact on local fishermen.

Me, I think it's great, whoever is responsible. Diving will be by permit, I suppose along the lines of backcountry camping in a National Park.

 

[Larry C]

Blather, shmather. I think it's fabulous that this step has been taken. Now, make the no take zone in the Hopkins marine sanctuary official, make the best environmental compromise on the Point Lobos reserve/Carmel area, protect the Gulf of Mexico, etc. The majority party (mine, by the way) is just introducing carrot legislation to give the States more of the lease money for offshore drilling to put pressure on governors and state legislatures to allow the appearance of willy nilly oil derricks all over the US coastline. While these make great artificial reefs, they also despoil the ocean and kill off shore birds and other life when, not if, they have spills. When the administration starts decrying Mr. Pombo and his ill-advised suggestions to sell off Nat'l Parks for profit and gut the endangered species act, and stops trying to drill oil fields in sensitive wilderness areas, I'll cheer him as the environmental President and let him brag on the N. Hawaiin Reserve.

 

[RICoder]

D'oh! So it is all north west of Ni'ihau? What about the islands/reefs people actually DIVE in Hawai'i? Sheesh!

Molokini Crater looks like a mooring station for morons half the time. Maui and Oahu (and surely some other islands) have their population of green sea turtles to protect. At the very least you'd think they'd set asside the water of Kaho'olawe, since its already closed of on land.

thanks dlndavid, for the link to the map.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Molokini Crater looks like a mooring station for morons half the time.

A good place for protection to start on this one would be with the many charter operations who take divers out there. They need to take better care of their own practices.

Bad enough that poorly trained divers walk all over the bottom ... but I have personally witnessed a DM from one of the charter operations tipping over a coral head in order to retrieve a tiny octopus for one of his clients to hold.

Probably killed a coupla hundred years worth of coral growth so his client could manhandle an octopus for a few seconds.

No legislation is gonna remediate damage done in the name of "customer service" ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)