World Oceans Day: Big Pics
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June 8, 2010 -- On this World Oceans Day, more than 245 marine scientists from 35 countries called for a global system of ocean parks to help preserve waning marine species like this rainbow fish in the Coral Sea.
“Marine scientists understand the immediate need to set aside more and larger marine reserves to give our oceans a chance to recover and replenish. Although some progress has been made, we hope that the public and world leaders pay attention to this message and act before it is too late,’’ said Sylvia Earle, world renowned oceanographer and one of the signatories.
Australia’s Coral Sea is one of the last remaining places on Earth where populations of jellyfish like this one, as well as large fish such as sharks, tuna and billfish, remain healthy. The Australian government is considering the Coral Sea for such a reserve. Such large reserves are rare.
Only 0.4 percent of the world’s oceans are fully protected from extractive activities, such as drilling, fishing and mining. By comparison, more than 30 times as much land area -- 5.8 percent of the world’s land -- has been set aside.
All images Courtesy of Lucy Trippett. Text by guest commentator Debbie Salamone, Communications Manager at the Pew Campaign to End Overfishing in the Southeast.
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