15 Apr 2010

Environmental groups welcome Tokelau's whale sanctuary move

10:46 am on 15 April 2010

Environmental groups are applauding Tokelau's move to declare its exclusive economic zone a whale sanctuary, the eleventh such designation in the Pacific.

The International Ocean Conservation for PEW Environment Group says the more countries in the Pacific region who move to declare their commitment to whale conservation, the stronger the voice to protect the species.

The director of International Ocean Conservation for PEW Environment Group, Karen Sack says its getting harder for fishing nations to ignore such efforts to conserve whales.

"What we need to remember is that even though the island states maybe small in terms of land mass, they really are big ocean states, and they have a lot to be proud of in terms of protecting oceans. Its time that other countries started listening to these ocean voices and pay attention to what they are saying."

Director of International Ocean Conservation for PEW Environment Group, Karen Sack.