On Wednesday, WBUR's Cognoscenti featured an opinion piece from Aquarium President and CEO Dr. Nigella Hillgarth. She puts a voice to the Aquarium's support for protecting the local ocean treasures of Cashes Ledge and the New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts.

"Just as we cannot imagine New England today without the White Mountain National Forest, the Cape Cod National Seashore or Acadia National Park, we cannot and should not try to imagine an ocean without these pristine and valuable treasures." (Keep reading on WBUR.)

Kelp forests flourish on Cashes Ledge | Photo: © Brian Skerry

Nigella's piece follows a standing-room forum hosted by the Aquarium with renowned National Geographic photographer and our own Explorer-in-Residence, Brian Skerry, alongside some of the region’s most prominent marine scientists. They provided a rare glimpse into the marvels of two of the nation’s most remarkable ocean areas, lying right off our own shores here in New England: Cashes Ledge in the Gulf of Maine and the New England Coral Canyons and Seamounts.

Read the full piece at WBUR.