June 8th, 1998

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Mediterranean monk seal: the rarest in the world.
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LISBON, Portugal -- At EXPO '98, the conservation organization WWF and
the IUCN-World Conservation Union, today released their first-ever
global strategy for marine conservation: Creating a Sea Change: A
Vision for Our Blue Planet.
"This global marine policy provides a blueprint to save our seas," said Dr
Claude Martin, Director General of WWF International. "It lays down
actions that every section of society - governments, industry,
communities, and individuals - can undertake to reverse the current
degradation of the oceanic environment."
At a special event to commemorate World Oceans Day, WWF also
announced a marine 'Gift to the Earth' made by the Government of
Turkey. The gift involves protection of important habitats of the
Mediterranean Monk Seal along the Cilician coast of southern Turkey.
This is the rarest seal in the world, with total surviving numbers probably
less than 300.

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Fishing boats anchored off Isabela island in the Galapagos -
the the government of Ecuador's Gift to the Earth will help reduce the
threat of overfishing in these extraordinary islands
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Other significant commitments were also recognized by WWF in its effort
to raise awareness during this International Year of the Ocean. The
Government of Ecuador's gift made in March was passing the
Galapagos Conservation Law. It will help reduce the threats of
increasing human population pressure and commercial over fishing in
these globally important islands.
"We would like to congratulate the governments that are willing to take
such bold decisions," said Dr Martin. "When pieced together, such marine
"Gifts to the Earth' provide our best hope to conserve the rich biodiversity
of the oceans."
These achievements reflect the five priorities identified in the WWF/IUCN
policy: the establishment and effective management of marine protected
areas; the conservation and recovery of threatened marine species; the
sustainable management of fisheries; the reduction and elimination of
marine pollution; and the promotion of integrated coastal management.
As Dr Sylvia Earle, prominent marine biologist, and Chairman of Deep
Ocean Exploration and Research, pointed out: "The oceans are in
trouble, and therefore so are we."

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The trawler's bycatch is dumped back into the sea
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Total benefits from the oceans have recently been estimated at US$21
trillion. But too many fish are being taken, too much waste dumped, and
too much coastal area converted into urban and industrial sites
destroying critical ecosystems on which marine wildlife, including
commercial fish, depends.
Note: WWF has also prepared a video news release for the World
Oceans Day.
For more information, please contact
Leigh Ann Hurt at +44 468 336 398 or
Someshwar Singh at +41 79 310 8102.