Gran victoria para la protección del Océano del Sur:
Richard Branson, fundador del Grupo Virgin: "es
maravilloso que el mundo se haya unido para proteger el maravilloso Mar de
Ross, en la Antártida. Realmente demuestra que la comunidad internacional puede
aunar fuerzas en favor del océano y del planeta. Felicidades al Secretario de
Estado John Kerry y a EE.UU., Nueva Zelanda, Rusia y los demás países que han
trabajado para hacer realidad esta decisión histórica".
José María Figueres, expresidente de Costa Rica
y copresidente de Ocean Unite: "En Ocean Unite estamos extremadamente
satisfechos con la decisión que se ha tomado esta semana de proteger el
emblemático Mar de Ross, en la Antártida – que presenta una superficie mayor
que Francia, Alemania y España juntas. Este hecho constituye un paso
importante en el empeño de conseguir un océano mundial en buen estado de salud
y, por ende, un planeta sano en beneficio de todos. Felicidades y gracias a
toda la gente que ha contribuido a hacer realidad
Major Victory for Protection of the Southern Ocean
Friday 28 October, Hobart, Australia: The
Antarctic Ocean Alliance applauds the momentous agreement by Members of
the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Resources (CCAMLR) tosafeguard 1.55 million km2 of the Ross Sea in the
Southern Ocean, 1.12 million km2 of which is fully protected.
"CCAMLR made history today by declaring
the world's largest marine protected area in the Ross Sea, protecting
penguins, seals, whales and countless other creatures," said Andrea Kavanagh, who directs The Pew Charitable Trusts Antarctic and Southern Ocean work. "This decision shows that CCAMLR takes its role as protector of Antarctic waters seriously."
Mike
Walker, Project Director of the Antarctic Ocean Alliance, said the deal
was an important milestone for ocean conservation, but urged countries
to go further.
"For
the first time, countries have put aside their differences to protect a
large area of the Southern Ocean and international waters," Walker
said. "The limited 35-year restriction for protection of the Ross Sea
contradicts the scientific advice that marine protection should be
long-term. Nevertheless, we are confident that the significant benefits
of protecting the Southern Ocean will soon be clear and the
international community will act to safeguard this special place long
into the future."
The
Ross Sea is one of the last intact marine ecosystems in the world, home
to penguins, Weddell seals, Antarctic toothfish, and a unique type of
killer whale. The region is critical for scientific research, for
studying how marine ecosystems function and understanding the impacts of
climate change on the ocean. Millions of people around the world have
joined the global call for large-scale marine protection in Antarctica.
"This
is a victory for the whales, toothfish, and penguins that live in the
Ross Sea, as well as for the millions of people who supported this
effort," said John Hocevar, a marine biologist with Greenpeace. "We urge
the international community to take notice and designate additional,
permanent protections in other areas of the Antarctic Ocean and around
the world."
"This
would not have been possible without Russia joining with other
countries to achieve today's historic decision to protect the Ross Sea.
The governments of the United States and New Zealand should also be
commended for their tireless work these past six years," added Kavanagh.
Two
additional proposals for marine protected areas in East Antarctic
waters and the Weddell Sea are still being discussed. The Antarctic
Ocean Alliance is advocating to ensure that these proposals are based on
the best available science.
"Although
there was not a decision on the proposed protection of the Weddell Sea
and the East Antarctic this year, we are confident that these areas will
be protected in the coming years, adding to the system of marine
protected areas in the Southern Ocean," said Walker.
Today's decision follows years of hard work by governments and the member groups of the Antarctic Ocean Alliance. Working in coalition, these groups and individuals are
campaigning to create a large system of marine protected areas in the
Southern Ocean. The Alliance has proposed areas covering approximately
40 percent of the Southern Ocean for lasting protection.
For interviews, contact:
(In Hobart) Antarctic Ocean Alliance Communications Director Elsa Evers +61 438 204 041 elsa@antarcticocean.org
(In Barcelona) Antarctic Ocean Alliance Adviser Dave Walsh +34 691 826 764 dave@antarcticocean.org
(In Hobart) Pew Communications Officer, Barb Cvrkel: +1 202 510 5670 bcvrkel@pewtrusts.org
To access a video news release, images or video go to:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/
Patricia Roy |
Communications Inc
| France & Spain | Tel. +34 696 905 907 |
patricia@communicationsinc.co.uk
| skype:
patyroy
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