Obama Administration's Monument Expansion Creates World's Largest Marine Protected Area

WASHINGTON (August 26, 2016) – President Obama, exercising his authority under the Antiquities Act, will quadruple the size of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), a marine monument in Hawaii.  The monument was created by President George W. Bush ten years ago.  It contains some of the planet's most extensive coral reefs, along with an abundance of marine life, from tuna and swordfish to sharks and Hawaiian monk seals.

The following is a statement by Sarah Chasis, director of the Oceans program at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

"As we mark the 100th anniversary of America's National Park Service this week, there's no better time for such a bold move in ocean conservation.  This act -- to build resilience in our oceans, and sustain the persity and productivity of sea life -- could usher in a new century of conservation for our most special, and fragile, ocean areas."

For more information, see this recent blog by NRDC Senior Oceans Advocate, Alex Adams.

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.

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