More than 20 countries represented at the meeting were also announcing the creation of their own marine protected areas. The new Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument consists of nearly 13,000 square kilometres of underwater canyons and mountains off the New England coast. It’s the 27th time that Obama has created or enlarged a national monument. WASHINGTON—Creating the Atlantic Ocean’s first marine national monument is a needed response to dangerous climate change, oceanic dead zones and unsustainable fishing practices, President Barack Obama said Thursday. “So it’s up to us to adapt, not the other way around.”In all, the Atlantic Ocean monument will include three underwater canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon and four underwater mountains.

Source: thestar September 15, 2016 21:33 UTC