Cameron backs Marianas Trench Sanctuary designation
Film director James Cameron emerges after diving solo to Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the world’s ocean. (MARK THIESSEN/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC)
James Cameron, director of Hollywood blockbusters Avatar, The Abyss, and Titanic, has penned a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to “finish the work of protecting the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument through a national marine sanctuary designation.”
Cameron is also the only human to ever dive solo to Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the world’s ocean.
The letter states that the Obama Administration has built a legacy of ocean protection unrivaled by any president in American history. The letter also points to the role of the ocean as the planet’s largest ecosystem and crucial role as a climate regulator.
“Large, strongly protected marine reserves have emerged as important policy solutions [that] carry the dual benefit of both marine climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies,” wrote Cameron. “By increasing ocean health, strongly protected marine reserves are one of the most efficient means to protect Earth and its climate.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature recommends protecting 30 percent of the ocean.
“We are thankful to Mr. Cameron for helping us bring more protection to the Mariana Trench,” said Ignacio Cabrera, chairman of the Friends of the Marianas Trench. “His dive in 2012 shone a bright light on our unique and globally significant natural resources, now he is helping us bring attention to the need to protect it for our kids and their kids.”
In September, Gov. Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres and Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) wrote to Obama, kicking off a local effort to bring the NOAA Sanctuary program to the Northern Mariana Islands.
The plan has raised the ire of the vice chair of the controversial Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, who argues that industrial fishing and deep sea mining are a better use of these rare ecosystems and natural resources. However, the plan enjoys the support of nearly every elected official in the Northern Mariana Islands, including the Legislature, mayors, and municipal council members.
I do not support the marine sanctuary idea for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (MTMNM). The only natural resources the CNMI has that can sustain a viable economic industry is our marine resources. Our islands are too small to realize any natural resources that can actually provide the level of economic revenue to meet our needs. If the US Government decides to end the China Visa waiver for the CNMI then there goes our casino industry and our marine resources is really all we have to fall back to. Turning most of our waters into a sanctuary only takes away our opportunity to capitalize what is truly ours. We have already been setting aside conservation areas to protect our resources. Why should our waters and waters from other tiny US territories such as American Samoa be victimized of one-sided power take over?? Enough is enough. The MTMNM hasn’t delivered a single economic prosperity for the CNMI it listed would occur to date.
OMG! I did not see this coming…this is Federal Imperialism at its best. I understand that James Cameron is rich and famous so he can say anything he wants, but how about the future of the people who have been bullied for centuries to give and give until there is no more? To begin with, James does not give a crap about the history of our people or our culture and how we are being forced to adhere to the wills and laws of other power nations! To him it’s all a show. I beg the government not to give in to Mr. Hollywood. We need to continue uniting our people in the battle against the U.S. Military Plans to steal more land from the indigenous for destruction. We can’t be distracted. This is critical! Don’t support the sanctuary!