> WASHINGTON — President Bush will designate vast tracts of
> American-controlled Pacific Ocean islands, reefs, surface waters and sea
> floor as marine national monuments on Tuesday, limiting fishing, mining,
> oil exploration or other commercial activity, White House officials said
> Monday.

(snip)

> The president’s action, which requires no Congressional or other
> approval, builds on the designation two years ago of the
> 139,000-square-mile Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the
> northwest Hawaiian Islands under the federal Antiquities Act.

It is true that soon-to-be-ex-president-Bush has protected large parts
(but a small percentage) of the Pacific.

It is also true that Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, an all-volunteer
not-for-profit citizen-supported group was instrumental in getting Palm
Beach County waters designated as critical habitat for two species of
endangered Acropora corals. That designation would protect this
mollusk-rich area from dredging, anchoring, siltation, and other
stresses which have killed off more than 90% of the Acropora and much of
the molluscan life in the area.

NOAA, however, has cut the protected area roughly in half, to the
benefit of the dredging and sewerage dumping interests who fund NOAA
locally. NOAA supplements its revenues from major polluters with your
tax dollars, making them a formidable force.

If you have enjoyed the many posts here regarding the magnificent
molluscan offerings of Palm Beach County, you have an interest in
supporting Reef Rescue in its efforts to preserve this gravely
threatened habitat. Go to  http://www.reef-rescue.org/  to see what we
are doing and how you can help. Email me directly if you would like a
copy of our petition to reinstate northern Palm Beach County waters to
protected status.

Our budget to fight NOAA on this is about 1/10,000 of NOAA's
expenditures to take away this vital habitat. Your help is desperately
needed!

m

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