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Oceans News
For Immediate Release:
03/31/2008
For More Information:
Contact Dan Jacobson (916) 446-8062 x 105 HR 1187 to Expand California Marine Ocean Sanctuaries Passes For Immediate
Release: March 31st, 2008 Contact: Mike Gravitz,
Environment 202-683-1250 ext 349 office 916-446- 8062 x 104 office 301-351-5052 cell 213-447-8583 cell Statement of Mike
Gravitz, Environment America’s Oceans Advocate, on House Passage of HR 1187 to
Expand California Marine Sanctuaries Environment America and our
partner, Environment California, applaud the efforts of many including Rep.
Lynn Woolsey, Rep. Nick Rahall, Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, and
Rep. Madeline Bordallo, Chairwoman of the Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
Subcommittee, for securing passage of H.R. 1187 which will double the size of the
Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries off the coast
of California. Sponsored by Representatives Lynn
Woolsey, D-CA, Wayne Gilchrest, R-MD and 50 other members of Congress including
Lois Capps, D-CA, the bill will double the size of the existing Gulf of
Farallones and Cordell Banks sanctuaries to protect the California Current
Coastal Upwelling area centered off Point Arena which works as a conveyor belt
of food and nutrients to areas as far as 250 miles down the coast. This coastal upwelling pumps cold, nutrient
rich water from the deep ocean up to the surface where it acts as fertilizer
for tens of thousands of square miles of ocean. It is the only one on the Marine sanctuaries like the
one established in this bill heal our damaged oceans, rebuild overfished fish
stocks, and create refuges from the effects of global warming and ocean
acidification. This is a clear victory for
far-sighted management of our oceans.
Exceptional places like the northern The House has now taken a
critical step in expanding sanctuary protection for this unique marine environment
that is home to so many threatened species of marine mammals, fish and
seabirds. We urge the Senate to quickly pass a companion bill (S. 2635) so that
these places can be protected permanently. Environment |
HR-1187-House-press-release-final.doc