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Posté
Vendredi 22 Septembre 2006 par Véronique
Since years, the question of a new sanctuary for whales and dolphins in the West Indies was often put forward.
During the last annual session of the International Whaling Commission (June 2006, St Kitts and Nevis – Caribbean Is), France annonced at last the creation of a whales and dolphins sanctuary within the Exclusive Economic Zone (E.E.Z.) of its Caribbean islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique. The E.E.Z. extends up to 200 nautical miles from the shores (370 km). It covers a vast area which is under the states juridiction and can provide a real protection to the whales.
After the sanctuaries set up in French Polynesia and in New Caledonia, after the Pelagos sanctuary in the Mediterranean Sea, France has now taken the leadership in the preservation of the Caribbean area. Longitude 181 Nature applauds this announcement !
But, to be of significative importance in terms of cetacean conservation, taking into account the increasing threat of commercial whaling resumption, this initiative should be followed up by the neighbouring countries. It is of major importance for these whales to beneficiate of the largest possible sanctuary if we want them to be in peace within their Caribbean reproduction area.
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