World Oceans Day:
Scientists Sign Statement Calling for Large, Ecosystem-scale Marine Reserves

8 June 2010 — More than 257 marine scientists from 37 countries are calling for the establishment of a worldwide system of very large, highly protected marine reserves as "an essential and long overdue contribution to improving stewardship of the global oceanic environment."

Read the press release

Read the science statement (PDF)
French translation (PDF)

List of scientists who signed the statement (PDF)

Senior scientists and marine specialists: show your support for marine reserves

Protecting the Special Places in the Sea

World-scale marine reserves — places where no fishing or other extractive activity is allowed — protect our global marine heritage for future generations and celebrate our shared ocean legacy. Building on the historic precedent of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, designated as the largest marine reserve in the world in 2006 and the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and other marine monuments in the U.S. Pacific Islands in 2009, our aim — over five years — is to establish three to five world-class, no-take marine reserves that will provide ecosystem-scale benefits and help conserve our global marine heritage.

Current Projects

Coral Sea Heritage Park
Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary

Past Successes

Chagos Archipelago Marine Park
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawai'i
Mariana Trench Marine National Monument

Latest News

Jim Toomey's cartoon strip, Sherman's Lagoon, highlights the importance of no-take marine reserves. View large version.

NZ wages battle for diversity - The Marlborough Express - August 30, 2010

World Heritage status for Kermadecs soon - TVNZ - August 30, 2010. Includes video of interview with Jay Nelson.

Conservation Groups Applaud the Greens’ Support for a Coral Sea Marine Park - Protect Our Coral Sea Coalition - 10 August 2010

World’s largest marine protected area designated (PDF) - Oryx, The International Journal of Conservation - July 2010, Vol. 44, issue 3. Short mention of the designation in the journal's "Briefly" section on p. 315; read it online here.

A blueprint for blue planet protection - CNN - 29 July 2010

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