Posted on: Thursday, June 14, 2001
Island Voices
Pacific needs our protection
By Carlotta Leon Guerrero
The Pacific Ocean is the most beautiful ocean in the world. Everyone knows it and that's why millions of people travel every year to enjoy the beauty of our islands.
This wonderful ocean of ours is also the richest in the world. Over 51 percent of the world's tuna is caught in Pacific waters. Our vast oil and mineral deposits beckon to businesses trying to develop the technology to reach our ocean floors, the deepest on the planet.
But the beauty of our islands, our untold mineral wealth, the health of our fish and our ocean are in danger of being lost to us if we do not take a greater and more active role in the decisions affecting us.
In my many years as a journalist and lawmaker, I explored the problems facing our great ocean and then grappled with the solutions to fix those problems. That is why I decided to be a part of an independent group that is determined to find new and better ways of protecting oceans.
As a member of the Pew Oceans Commission, I join scientists, fishermen, elected officials, conservationists and business people from around the country conducting the first national review in more than 30 years of the policies and laws in place to protect our coasts and oceans.
The first thing I learned on meeting my fellow commissioners was that if I expected them to learn the problems facing American islanders living in the Pacific, I had to learn about the problems facing Americans living along the coasts of Maine or California, or the problems facing fishermen along the southeastern seaboard.
So far the process is working. I've learned about how soil runoff from three states inland can hurt the coastal environments. They have learned from me just how closely islanders tie their culture to oceans.
For the past several months, we have met with citizens who live and work along our nation's coastlines. We find agreement on defining the problems — that part is easy. The hard part is finding solutions.
Based on these ongoing discussions and after considering the best available science, we will present our recommendations for improving ocean management to Congress and the nation next year.
Perhaps the greatest challenge we see thus far is that too often we take the oceans for granted. The same things that draw us to the oceans — their vastness, mystery and power — contribute to the sense that they are beyond harm. In fact, there is trouble brewing beneath the surface. Many of our ocean habitats are showing serious signs of poor health.
A recent Pew Oceans Commission report found that polluted runoff from farms and cities continues to harm our estuaries, nature's nurseries for more than 70 percent of commercially harvested fish. These and other pollutants create "dead zones" where a lack of oxygen makes it difficult for marine life to survive.
We have lost over half of our coastal wetlands to development. Scientists estimate that more than 25 percent of the world's coral reefs have been lost, and that number may grow to 70 percent in the next 50 years unless we do a better job controlling pollution, development and destructive fishing practices.
The message is clear: Our activities are altering the health of the marine environment we love.
The good news is that it is not too late to restore the health of our oceans. With so many of our people enjoying a day at the beach this summer, it's an appropriate time to reflect on how much a part of our lives the ocean is and dedicate ourselves to its protection.
Carlotta Leon Guerrero, a former member of the Guam Legislature, is the founder and co-director of the Ayuda Foundation, and a member of the Pew Oceans Commission.
