Posted on 11/22/2008 7:24:28 PM PST by nickcarraway
Its slopes are thick with coral forests that grow 10 feet high. Fields of colorful sponges cover its rocky outcroppings. And marine species that until recently had never been seen by scientists teem all around it. On Thursday, a giant underwater volcano off California's Central Coast that some have compared to an aquatic "Lost World," was given national protection.
Davidson Seamount stands 7,546 feet above the ocean floor, in pitch black waters about 80 miles southwest of Monterey. Until eight years ago, almost nothing was known about it, largely because its summit sits 4,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
But as marine biologists began to send unmanned submarines to explore it, they found a
pristine environment rich with life, from red crabs with spindle legs to anemones that close like Venus flytraps.
"We were astounded to discover the variety of life, and particularly the size of the animals," said Dave Clague, a geologist with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in Moss Landing. "Some of the corals are truly huge. The big pink bubble gum corals get at least 10 feet tall. And they are hundreds of years old. We'd never seen anything like that."
On Thursday, the Bush administration published final regulations to expand the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by 14 percent to include Davidson Seamount. The first such expansion since Congress and President Bush's father established the sanctuary in 1992, the newly protected waters total 775 square miles — an area more than half the size of Yosemite National Park.
All offshore oil drilling is banned in the Monterey sanctuary, which stretches from the Marin headlands near the Golden Gate Bridge along 276 miles of coastline to Hearst Castle. With the new boundaries, the drilling ban will be extended to Davidson
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Ok, I guess not. My sarcasm meter wasn't functioning.
“are there some things in nature that should be off limits to profit-making?”
Nothing shiuld be off limits, you mine where there are mnerals, log where there are trees, nd drill where there is oil.
Environmental BS can go to hell!!
As far as birds and animals, if you can’t eat it or wear it it’s expendable.
Poop all you want,, 80 miles out to sea, 4000 feet down. Thats not a reasoned argument. Are you really suggesting this area needs protection?? If so,,, from what??
Besides,,, the shock wave and shrapnel might damage the fish meat. (humor,,, you get that, yes?)
Just a little slow tonight!
That's a tricky issue. Whatever the powers of Momma Gaea, it is no contradiction to leave unto Momma Gaea that which is Momma Gaea's. Momma Gaea's profligacy, as it may be perceived, should not be construed as an invitation to imitate her.
Heck after reading all of the comments here I am not going to touch this politically even though it is a political blog. Ah the irony. I just wanted to say about the volcano and the finding. COOL! God is amazing in his creation. I was just up on the Monterey peninsula last week. Stunning. So sad the libbies have taken over this state. That area is delightful and now that I know this cool volcano exists I am even more stunned. There are oil wells along the coastline elsewhere—although the libbies will not lets us use them. They do not however need to be across every square inch of the coastline folks. Besides as much as libbles COMPLETELY abuse this whole preservation bit, I think it will be beneficial to study this area and also to allow its preservation if for no other reason than to know atleast there is somewhere on earth the libbies have not dragged their nasty degraded morals and Marixist/Communist destruction. God world at least until He sees fit otherwise will stay in its pristine state. We can drill 20 miles south and north or something when the libbies allow it—NEVER!
No. But why has it received universal condemnation? Because it is too destructive to the environment? So, the, is purse-seine fishing.
i think drilling off the coast of california is a great idea. i’m just saying that the idea of “no limits on environmental exploitation” is oversimplistic.
what if i can make a profit by peeing in your front yard? i shouldn’t be allowed to do that. your property rights have to be respected.
what if i can make a profit by turning the grand canyon into a city dump?
basic civics 101. individual rights vs community rights.
the only way to decide this is by the local people voting.
Environmental BS can and should go to hell. but not all environmental issues are BS.
no, i don’t think that deep water area needs protection. i was responding to someone who said that nothing should be protected. i just said that some areas do need protection. public water sources for example.
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