Post date: Mar 19, 2013 1:47:39 AM
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joined New Zealand's Ambassador to theUnited States and former Prime Minister Mike Moore and Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr at an event to support a proposal to create the largest marine protected area on Earth in the Ross Sea.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 18, 2013) (NBC) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday (March 18) joined New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States and former Prime Minister Mike Moore and Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr to support a proposal to create the largest marine protected area on Earth in Antarctica's Ross Sea.
"When it comes to the Ross Sea and Antarctica, we are not going to wait for a crisis before we take action. I think we are making a smart choice now," he said."We are proud to join with New Zealand and Australia, two countries that have an extraordinary understanding of the sea and commitment to protecting it and who have been great stewards," he added.
The U.S. and New Zealand have partnered to protect the Ross Sea, a huge bay that jets into Antarctica in the Southern Ocean.
New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States and former Prime Minister Mike Moore also voiced his support for the plan.
"This is not a small thing. We are proud that this proposal is based on quality science, developed on the basis of research from around the world. This is an important step forward for enhancing scientific understanding of our southern ocean environment, including through valuable climate change marine ecosystem research," he said.
"I am honored to be here to make New Zealand's position absolutely clear. We will be knocking on doors with you around the world to make this a reality. So, to misquote the Vice President of the United States, this is a big deal," he said.
In July of this year, 24 countries and the European Union are expected to decide whether to designate the area in the Southern Ocean a MPA, or a marine protected area, or to leave the area unprotected and "vulnerable to large-scale fishing," according to a press release from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
A special meeting of these member states of Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, or CCAMLR, has been planned inBremerhaven, Germany, to discuss various proposals for protecting different areas.
At the reception on Monday, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carrbacked the U.S.-New Zealand proposal to protect the Ross Sea.
"I want to congratulate the U.S. and New Zealand on their efforts to secure a marine protected area in the Ross Sea, one of the last great ocean wilderness areas on earth. Unique in its scientific biodiversity, unique ecosystem characteristics and thanks to the efforts of the U.S. and New Zealand, it is one step closer to becoming the world's largest ever marine protected area," he said.
"We need it, and in expressing Australia's support tonight for this bid, I strongly encourage all members of the commission to support this joint proposal for a Ross Sea MPA at the commission meeting later this year," he added.
After Kerry, Moore and Carr delivered their remarks at the evening reception at theNational Geographic Society in Washington, guests were invited to view "The Lost Ocean," a documentary about the Ross Sea and its marine life.