Global Courant
SYDNEY – Australia plans to create a marine park nearly the size of Spain around remote islands off its southeast coast, the government announced on Sunday.
Under the proposals, the existing Macquarie Island Marine Park will be tripled in size, protecting a total of 475,465 square miles.
That is an area about the size of Spain or Cameroon and much larger than Germany, Vietnam or Japan.
The protection means that the area will be “completely closed to fishing, mining and other extractive activities,” said Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Existing fishing activities targeting the Patagonian toothfish may continue.
Macquarie Island is located midway between Australia and Antarctica and is home to king penguins, fur seals and a subantarctic science center.
“Macquarie Island is an exceptional place. It is a remote natural wonderland – a critical breeding ground for millions of seabirds, seals and penguins,” says Ms Plibersek.
Environmental groups have backed the plan, fearing the area could be targeted by seabed mining and unsustainable commercial fishing. AFP
