We are so excited to tell you about a major victory that our supporters helped achieve. Yesterday at the UN Ocean Conference, the Colombian government announced it will create four new official marine reserves, including one expanding the fully protected Malpelo Sanctuary of Fauna and Flora. Colombia will now surpass the goal of protecting 30% of its waters eight years before the 2030 deadline! The initiative to protect 30% of the global ocean by the year 2030, referred to as 30x30, is a target that scientists have indicated is necessary in order to prevent irreversible loss of marine life. A huge thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the petition to protect the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor. And, of course, this win would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Colombia’s environmental, fishing, and maritime authorities, along with scientists, the private fishing sector, nonprofits, and the people of Colombia. With this remarkable action, Colombia will strengthen local fisheries, sustainable livelihoods, and the protection of marine biodiversity in its native waters and throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor. If you’d like to move another campaign to create sanctuaries close to victory, consider adding your name to the brand-new petition to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 🌎 ⛵️
Campaign Update: In July 2021, the licenses issued to the company for oil exploration expired, effectively halting the project for now. The Bahamian Minister of the Environment publicly declared that the government would not consider a renewal application from the oil company, noting that it still owed millions in outstanding fees to the government. Thank you to the more than 15,000 supporters who joined Bahamian activists and organizations in this fight and helped make this moment possible.
The Bahamas is an ocean nation, with remarkable marine resources and wildlife that have supported local industry and brought visitors from around the world.
But a new oil drilling project could change that. And it’s starting in a matter of months. Just one accident, one spill, can devastate marine systems in the region and the foundation of the economy, employment, food sources, recreation, culture, and the Bahamian way of life.