September 19th, 2016 — A 90-nation conference devoted to the world’s oceans ended Friday with $5.3 billion in pledges for marine conservation, which U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said proves “we are making progress.”
Forty significant new or expanded marine protected areas were created at the Our Ocean summit, including President Barack Obama’s announcement of the first U.S. marine reserve in the Atlantic Ocean — an area totaling 13,000 square kilometers and known for its underwater mountains and canyons off the coast of New England.
Commercial fishing, oil exploration and other activities are limited in such areas to protect ecosystems.
Kerry said in closing remarks Friday that he had been in conversations with Russian officials about Moscow’s consent for a ban on fishing in the 960,000-square-kilometer Ross Sea, a pristine ecosystem in the Antarctic.
“We remain hopeful Russia will step up and join us in this endeavor,” Kerry said.
New technologies to fight pollution
The third Our Ocean event collected pledges of more than $1 billion to combat maritime pollution.
“It’s not just the dollars being brought to the table, but new technologies,” Kerry emphasized.
Five countries also detailed plastic bag bans: Mauritius said it has banned the import, manufacture, sale or supply of non-biodegradable plastic bags. Morocco announced that it has banned the production, import, export or acquisition of plastic shopping bags for sale or distribution. Ghana’s ban covers the manufacture of plastic bags thinner than .02 millimeter, and France informed delegates of its prohibition on all single-use plastic bags thinner than .05 millimeter. Senegal has banned the production and use of plastic bags.
In addition, France announced that it, Morocco and Monaco have launched an international coalition to ban single-use plastic bags.
Not only are the bags especially harmful to marine wildlife, they also litter the seas.