Final day of the consultation TODAY
05.03.2010 by chagosadmin
Today, Friday 5th March, is the deadline for responses to the public consultation on whether to establish a Marine Reserve in the Chagos archipelago. As visitors to this site will know, the Chagos Environment Network is working to encourage the government to designate a “no-take” reserve – i.e., one closed to extractive activities such as fishing and mining – and to extend this protection to the whole extent of the archipelago’s territorial waters. This would create the largest Marine Protected Area in the world, and would more than double the quantity of ocean globally that benefits from full protection.
Over a quarter of a million people (254,717 people as of 10:55 this morning to be precise!) have signed petitions on this website, at Avaaz.org and Care2 calling for the government to adopt the CEN’s proposal. Additionally, countless NGOs – from Greenpeace UK to the IUCN, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums to Fauna and Flora International – have sent their own letters in support of a no-take Marine Reserve.
Many thanks to all of you who’ve supported us. If you haven’t done so already, please sign the petition on our home page. We have until the end of the day to make our voices heard!
