Here’s How Obama Is Saving Marine Life And Protecting Super-Cool Shipwrecks

Meanwhile, in the United States, two marine sanctuaries will be created in Maryland and in Lake Michigan off Wisconsin, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a video address to the conference.

5, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced it will begin the designation process for the proposed Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary, located along the coastline of Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Port Washington.

Mallows Bay on the Potomac River in Maryland, a tidal wetland and a graveyard for scuttled warships since the Revolutionary War, will also become a reserve. Since the process was opened, seven nominations were submitted from around the country, and the two announced Monday were the ones so far approved by NOAA for consideration as national marine sanctuaries. More than 400 scientists, world leaders, businesspeople, environmentalists and philanthropists from 20 nations are expected to attend the event, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Prince Albert of Monaco.

Chile just announced the creation of the largest marine sanctuary in the Americas, protecting a slice of the ocean the size of Italy.

Kerry also told delegates that the USA will create two new national marine sanctuaries at home to help tackle illegal fishing and environmental marine damage.

Together, the marine sanctuaries would protect almost 900 square miles of water in the United States: one 875-square mile section of Lake Michigan, near Wisconsin, and a 14-square mile stretch of tidal waters in Maryland. “Illegal fishing depletes the world’s fisheries”.

“It does not mean all of a sudden these areas are national marine sanctuaries“, said Ellen Brody, coordinator with the Great Lakes region of NOAA’s national marine sanctuary office. Sea Scout will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of at-sea enforcement through the identification of regional “hot spots” – where IUU fishing is known to be most severe or to pose the most significant threat – to ensure that at-sea enforcement assets are directed and deployed in the most efficient manner. The announcement is part of administration’s plan to protect the marine resources, in order for the next generation to benefit from it.

“It’s going to put us on the map with NOAA’s other marine sanctuaries, so that’s going to be a great way to highlight our area”, said City of Sheboygan Mayor Mike Vandersteen.

In a press release accompanying the video, the White House said the president is also working on new plans to combat illegal fishing.

Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin group, who has spoken out before about ocean conservation, blogged: “This wonderful action will protect treasures off the shores of this remote island, as well as the brilliant biodiversity that feeds the local Rapa Nui people, and helps them continue their centuries-old cultural traditions”. The detection system will be implemented in Indonesia, the Philippines, and three other countries next year.