The Largest Marine Protected Area On The Planet

President Barack Obama more than quadrupled the size of a marine reserve off the coast of Hawaii last week, making it the largest marine protected area on the planet. This hundred square mile stretch of ocean is the largest marine protected area on the planet. President Obama more than quadrupled the size of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument last week, making it more than twice the size of Texas.

The monument was originally created in 2006 by former President George W. Bush and was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2010. Since then, scientific exploration has discovered a large number of new species and deep sea habitats in this region. The monument is a sanctuary for marine life and is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. It is the planet’s largest sea bird gathering site with more than 14 million birds from 22 species. Scientists supporting the expansion say it will protect more than 7,000 species, including endangered animals such as the blue whale, sea turtles and black coral which is estimated to be 4,500 years old.

Environmentalists say that as ocean warming and other impacts of climate change threaten ecosystems the move will improve the resilience of oceans and will create a natural laboratory for scientists. The expanded place is also considered sacred for native Hawaiians, who use it for cultural and spiritual activities. With the designation, commercial fishing and deep sea mining is prohibited. Despite the benefits to the ecosystem, some local fisherman were against the new legislation because of its potential impact on Hawaii’s fishing industry.