WASHINGTON – At a kickoff event to announce the formation of the Congressional Caucus on National Marine Sanctuaries on Thursday (World Ocean Day), noted marine biologist Jean-Michel Cousteau summed up the need for more education on the nation’s water resources with two thoughts:
One from his legendary father, Jacques: “People protect what they love.”
And one from Jean-Michel himself: “How can we protect what we don’t understand?”
Jean-Michel Cousteau, who is president of the nonprofit marine conservation group Ocean Futures Society, spoke on behalf of the new caucus, which aims to educate Americans on what Cousteau called the connection that exists between the ocean environment and us.
Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., said the caucus would dedicate itself to the protection of the nation’s marine sanctuaries. Acting as co-chair with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., Capps said that the bipartisan effort is a chance to compel more citizens to take care of one of their most precious resources.
“Our nation prides itself on its conservation ethic, as embodied in our national parks and forests,” Capps said
“The 13 marine sanctuaries extend this ethic into the sea,” Capps said.
The sanctuaries are 13 areas along the U.S. coasts, Great Lakes, American Samoa and Hawaii that are safe habitats for marine life and recreational and educational resources.
Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., who co-chairs the House Oceans Caucus, said that national marine sanctuaries create in federal law the equivalent of a national forest. But while the national forest system has an established history, Farr said marine sanctuaries are about 100 years behind.
“I think Americans are beginning to see the forest through the trees on land, but we’re not seeing the ocean through the waves,” he said.
Cousteau said he hopes the caucus will bring the message of conservation not only to Capitol Hill, but also to the rest of the country. “We really need to share the adventure and the fascination with the public at large,” he said.
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(c) 2006, Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
AP-NY-06-08-06 1504EDT
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