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Leon Panetta, chairman of the Pew Oceans Commission, grew up in Monterey, Calif., when sardines were plentiful. After World War II, Panetta said, "The sardines were gone." Children get televised
lesson in ocean policyBy Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin"In the early '50s, a whole industry collapsed," said Panetta. "I don't want to see that happen."
Panetta, along with three commissioners, joined a room of sixth-graders from Sunset Elementary School on the KidScience Program, "The State of the Oceans." The program aired at 10:30 yesterday on KHET. Commissioners discussed their concerns with children about problems affecting the ocean and policies needed to better manage it.
Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, said, "It's really important for kids to get involved in policy-making and to really understand how laws are made because they're the ones in whose hands the future will lie."
The commission, an independent group made up of 20 members, is focusing on areas of pollution, coastal development, impacts of fishing and governance that affects the marine environment. It conducted meetings in Maui this week as part of its national dialogue on policies needed to restore and protect the oceans.
Information is being collected from native Hawaiians, fishermen and residents in order to make recommendations to Congress in April of next year.
Patty Miller, teacher and producer of the KidScience Program, plans to do a three-part series to air nationally in early 2002, explaining the commission's recommendations to Congress.
Panetta said Americans need to do a better job "to conserve fish stocks both for those that depend on it for their livelihood, but also for the sake of life in the ocean."
Carlotta Leon Guerrero, member of the commission, said, "Too many people are taking too much out of the ocean."
"It's like a free-for-all," said Guerrero, a former member of the Guam Senate.
International laws are needed in order to protect the ocean from pollutants that destroy sea life and the ocean environment, he said.
Eleven-year-old Noe Wicker from Pupukea said, "It's the people's carelessness about how they dump oil and how they dump trash and pollute.
"They don't care about the animals."
As problems face the marine environment, Panetta said, "This is an island whose culture is based on the ocean.
"We want to make sure it's here for their children, as well."