Vast New Pacific Marine Sanctuaries Created

[BeltwayBandit]

The protected zones, including parts of the deep Mariana Trench and a string of largely uninhabited reefs and atolls near the Equator and American Samoa, include a total of 195,280 square miles, an area larger than the states of Washington and Oregon combined.

 

The islands, atolls, reefs and underwater mountain ranges offer unique habitat to hundreds of rare species of birds and fish. Among them are tropicbirds, boobies, frigate birds, terns, noddies, petrels, shearwaters and albatrosses, according to environmental groups who pushed for the protection. It is also the habitat of the rare Micronesian megapode, a bird that incubates its eggs using subterranean volcanic heat.

 

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/us/06oceans.html?hp

 

 

Politics aside, this is great news for reef conservation!

[mogurnda]

This is really exciting news. Some of the most pristine marine areas set aside.

[jnguyen4007]

MSNBC has marine photos of the areas that are covered. Those photos are spectacular!!!!

[amay121]

+1 to jnuygen's statement. The pictures were sweet.