Media Contacts
Director, Protect Our Oceans Campaign, Environment America
Removing ocean protections “the last thing we need”
Environment America
BOSTON — President Donald Trump announced today that he is stripping protections from one of the nation’s most unique ocean ecosystems, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. This key habitat was designated a monument in 2016 to protect marine life off New England’s coast. President Trump’s proclamation opens the area to commercial fishing, which puts deep sea coral and marine mammals at risk of habitat degradation and fishing gear entanglements.
Kelsey Lamp, oceans advocate with Environment America, released the following statement:
“Every day, our oceans face threats from global warming, water and plastic pollution and overfishing. The last thing we need is to remove protections from one of the few marine habitats that is currently protected from direct human impacts. The centuries-old coral and the endangered whales, dolphins and other ocean life protected by this monument are fragile and irreplaceable. To allow commercial fishing in this vital marine monument would put so many remarkable species at further risk.
“As the public has shown over and over, this is not what the vast majority of Americans want. We saw this when the administration announced its intention to roll back protections from Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments. Whether you’re on the coast in New England, living in Hawaii or located inland, Americans understand and appreciate the overwhelming value in conserving our natural heritage and safeguarding it for future generations. Recognizing what’s at stake, we will fight alongside our partners to stop the president’s unjustifiable announcement, which threatens this monument and the health of our oceans.”
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