OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PROTECTS OFFSHORE AREAS FROM DRILLING
December 21, 2016
President Barack Obama has announced that offshore areas in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, including the Hudson Canyon off the coast of New York, will be protected from future oil and gas development,.
"This is a good step toward conserving vulnerable marine species," said WCS President and CEO Cristián Samper in a statement, "and also safeguarding the livelihoods of people who depend on marine resources, including fisheries which could be greatly impacted by fossil fuel development."
WCS's New York Aquarium recently led a diverse coalition of aquariums, NGOs, local fishing groups, scientists, and other stakeholders in submitting a proposal to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate the Hudson Canyon a National Marine Sanctuary. The announcement is great news for marine mammals, including endangered whale species, as well as other marine wildlife.
This measure underscores the need for protection of submarine environments off the Atlantic coast.