Pushed by a chorus of 486,900 citizens, the Australian government announced Thursday their intention to create the world’s largest marine reserve, a highly protected zone in the Coral Sea stretching almost 200,000 square miles — a historic moment for ocean conservation in Australia and globally.
Australia’s Coral Sea, east of the Great Barrier Reef, is one of the last remaining intact tropical ocean ecosystems in the world where populations of large ocean predators – sharks, tunas, and marlin – have not been severely reduced. The waters are home to healthy coral reefs, atolls, cays, and islands that provide shelter to reef fish, sea turtles, and seabirds.
Equivalent in size to Spain, the Coral Sea marine national park will be safeguarded from all extractive activity, including mining, oil and gas development, and fishing. In addition, its creation will ensure the protection of more than a third of its namesake fragile coral reefs.
