Obama sides with Pacific Ocean

President Obama has proposed adding 2,093 square nautical miles to protected waters off the coast of Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

Stretching 50 miles along the coast and 30 miles out to sea, the addition would more than double the area of water protected by two existing marine sanctuaries and will be permanently off limits to oil exploration, according to SFGate.com.

Legislation proposed by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) was blocked by House Republican leaders because it would impede future oil and gas production. However, Obama proclaimed it a protected area by executive order, ending decades of Republican efforts to open the area to oil development. The nutrient-rich waters support a huge fish population, including salmon, as well as birds, sea lions, orcas, and gray, blue and humpback whales.

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