BEST has given the thumbs up to a proposal to establish a protected marine area within Bermuda’s Exclusive Economic Zone.Government and Pew Environment Group should be congratulated for “moving in this direction”, a statement from the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce read.“There is the potential such a marine area would be attractive to tourists and scientists who could take three- to five-day boating excursions for diving, bird watching, marine research and so on, accompanied by local experts. This could open up new business opportunities for Bermudians that would tie in with the Blue Economy concept as well as be sustainable.”The Royal Gazette has reported that Pew Environment Group was trying to persuade Government to establish the largest marine reserve in the Atlantic.BEST continued: “We would have liked for the Minister of the Environment to have emphasised the intrinsic value of the physical environment as the basis for any sustainability in the social and economic environments — both of which have other Ministers to promote them. Far too often Bermuda's unique physical environment is taken for granted.“Bermuda's ability to grow the economy and increase jobs is dependent on maintaining a healthy environment, both on land and in our oceans.”