Santo Domingo.- Environment minister FranciscoDominguez on Wednesday headed the 30th anniversary celebration of the Creationof the Silver and Christmas Banks Marine MammalsSanctuary, and the 10th year since the agreement with the US Stellwagen NationalMarine Sanctuary.
Dominguez said the refuge protects thehabitat of the largest population of humpback whales which come from the NorthAtlantic from December to March to the Caribbean each year to mate and calve.The humpbacks gather mostly in the Plata and Christmas banks and Samana Bay.
The official said those 30 years are part ofa national strategy to conserve and sustain biodiversity and the 2011-2020 planof action. "The care and protection of the sanctuary is of greatimportance for the state and the scientific importance it represents for thecountry."