While not yet written into law, President Obama's new Ocean Policy task force called for decisions guided by "best available science" as well as a "precautionary approach" that reflects the Rio Declaration of 1992, which states: "where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environment degradation."
Since there is an abundance of scientific information available that mitigates against the degradation of this important marine location, this new policy should recognize the value of Head Harbour Passage and West Isles and move towards establishing a Marine Protected Area or Marine Managed Area here in Quoddy in the immediate future. This is the opportunity for Canada and the United States to join together in forming the first international protected area along our border. The precident was already set with the establishment of the highly success Roosevelt Campobello International Park and Commission.
Actually, the RCIP could well be the existing management structure. This would only extend the area that they would manage.
Read more about President Obama's Ocean Policy here: http://www.alternet.org/story/142866/obama_administration_announces_new_plan_to_save_oceans%2C_will_it_be_enough
Photo Credit: wikipedia.com
