NOAA 2000-Anchoring FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Madelyn Appelbaum, Maureen O'Leary 7/28/00 |
NOAA Spearheads Plan to Safeguard Vital Marine Areas The International
Maritime Organization (IMO), the world's governing body for
international shipping issues, has given preliminary approval
to a U.S. proposal to amend international shipping rules and
allow countries to establish "no-anchoring" zones for
large ships. "This is a historic step in international maritime
law. Every country The IMO's Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation also initially approved a U.S. proposal to establish three "no-anchoring areas" to protect the fragile coral reefs of our nation's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the northwest sector of the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous commercial ships anchor in this area before or after entering major shipping ports in Texas and Louisiana. "This is a critical move forward.
The world's coral reefs are in crisis. Two-thirds may be Baker called coral reefs, "The medicine
chests of the 21st century, offering exciting promise of life-saving
and other critical pharmaceuticals." Coral reefs also protect Developed by NOAA, and supported by the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal agencies, both proposals will be forwarded to the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee for final consideration at its December meeting in London. NOAA worked closely with the shipping industry to reach a consensus on the proposals. "The proposals make sense," says Kathy Metcalf, of the U.S. Chamber of Shipping which represents 18 U.S. based shipping companies. "It is imperative that the maritime industry support environmental protection initiatives that maintain the ability to continue efficient, effective and environmentally sound marine transportation." The measures will help shippers steer clear of "no-anchoring areas" by requiring that all countries producing charts for international navigation mark such areas on their charts. The "no-anchoring" measures focus on prevention, instead of enforcement and liability for damages. Clearly marking the "no-anchoring" areas will help mariners increase compliance. |