Obama to create world's largest ocean preserve

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is looking to create the largest marine preserve in the world in the Pacific Ocean.

The White House says Obama wants to protect a massive stretch of ocean from drilling, fishing and other actions that could threaten wildlife. He's considering expanding protected waters that surround a group of mostly uninhabited islands the U.S. controls near Hawaii and American Samoa.

Obama will announce the executive action Tuesday. But the White House says it will listen to public input and is still finalizing the sanctuary's boundaries.

Obama also plans to create a program to address prohibited fish and seafood trade. The actions were first reported by The Washington Post.

The expansion comes as Obama is seeking ways to protect climate and the environmental despite opposition in Congress.

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