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Thanks, President Bush
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Posted on Aug 28 2008
I am writing to express my heartfelt thanks for your recent announcement regarding potentially protecting 115,000 square miles of the Northern Mariana Islands as a marine monument. We look forward to working with you in the months ahead as you formalize your decision.
The potential to protect this unique marine area is exciting for many reasons. A significant portion of the Marianas Trench, known as the Grand Canyon of the ocean, would be protected from harmful extractive activities. This area is home to seabirds, endangered sea turtles, as well as coconut crabs, the largest land-living crustaceans.
Such protection would enable this area to act as a nursery for Pacific fisheries. Fish stocks of all kinds would benefit from such a safe haven. Since the northernmost islands are currently protected by our Constitution, extending such protection to the surrounding seas would benefit not only the people of CNMI, but also all those who fish the high seas of the Pacific.
The people of CNMI would benefit in numerous ways. For example, the potential for increased tourism is enormous. Already, CNMI attracts visitors from the world. Having the second largest marine reserve in our backyard would provide an added incentive for visitors from around the world to visit our islands.
Such a reserve would also attract marine scientists of all kinds. The potential and research activities and increased understanding of ocean environments is enormous. Both tourists and visiting researchers would need visitor services, and such economic activity would be a true boon for our struggling economy. We look forward to such activity being based on Saipan, as our economy is currently struggling.
This marine monument has the potential to significantly enhance CNMI’s reputation throughout the world as a place not only to visit, but also as a place of conservation and of learning. We look forward to working with you in the months ahead to make this dream a reality. Our children and our children’s children will thank you. Si yu’use ma’ase.
[B]Ignacio Cabrera[/B] [I]Chairman, Friends of the Monument[/I]
