Today, the Senate Commerce
Committee approved and referred to the full Senate H.R. 1187, a bill to double
the size of the GulfFarallones - Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries
and protect a unique marine environment off our coast in Northern
California. Marine sanctuaries heal our damaged oceans
and protect vulnerable sea animals. At
various times during the year, the area hosts more than one third of the
world’s whale and dolphin species including the world’s largest concentration
of endangered Blue whales, the largest animal on earth. Other endangered marine animals that use the
area include Humpback whales, sea turtles and sea birds. The largest concentration of breeding
seabirds in the continental U.S.
feasts on the rich food produced here, some migrating from as far away as the
Midway Atoll in the central Pacific (protected by the new NationalMarineMonument)
and New Zealand
to feed. of
The committee, led by Sen.
Daniel Inouye, D (HI), approved this bill for full Senate action. This widely-supported bill passed the House
in April with a two-thirds vote.
Sponsored chiefly by Senator Barbara Boxer, D (CA) and Representative
Lynn Woolsey, D (CA) and shepherded through the Oceans Subcommittee by Sen.
Maria Cantwell, D (WA), this is a clear victory for far-sighted management of
our oceans.
If this bill is enacted, one
of the most productive marine ecosystems on earth, the exceptional northern California marine
ecosystem, will be protected for generations to come from pollution and
offshore drilling. Recognizing the value of the protection for this unique
marine area, many local and county governments in the affected area, national
environmental groups and commercial fishing groups support this proposal.
The Commerce Committee has
now taken a critical step in expanding sanctuary protection for this unique
marine environment that is home to an amazing assemblage of marine mammals,
fish, sea birds, and sea turtles -- a biological hotspot for diversity and
abundance. We urge the full Senate to
quickly pass the bill, followed by quick final House adoption, so that these
places can be protected permanently
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