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Australia creates world's largest marine reserve network Australia creates world's largest marine reserve network
(about 2 hours later)
Australia has created the world's largest network of marine reserves and will restrict fishing and oil and gas exploration in a major step to safeguard the environment and access to food.Australia has created the world's largest network of marine reserves and will restrict fishing and oil and gas exploration in a major step to safeguard the environment and access to food.
The area will cover 3.1 million square kilometres (1.2 million square miles) of ocean including the entire Coral Sea, and encompass a third of the island continent's territorial waters. The area will cover 3.1m sq km (1.2m sq miles) of ocean including the entire Coral Sea, and encompass a third of the island continent's territorial waters.
Environment Minister Tony Burke said the government expects to pay an estimated 100 million Australian dollars to the fishing industry in compensation for the new restrictions on their operations that will take effect late this year. The environment minister, Tony Burke, said the government expected to pay an estimated 100m Australian dollars to the fishing industry in compensation for the new restrictions on their operations that will take effect late this year.
Highly protected areas such as the Coral Sea off Australia's northeastern coast and the adjoining World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef will also be protected from oil and gas exploration. Both areas, which cover a total 1.3 million square kilometres (500,000 square miles), have shallow reefs that support tropical ecosystems with sharks, coral, sponges and many fish species. Highly protected areas such as the Coral Sea off Australia's north-eastern coast and the adjoining World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef will also be protected from oil and gas exploration. Both areas, which cover a total 1.3m sq km, have shallow reefs that support tropical ecosystems with sharks, coral, sponges and many fish species.
The numbers of marine reserves off the Australian coast will be increased from 27 to 60.The numbers of marine reserves off the Australian coast will be increased from 27 to 60.
Burke said he wanted the reserves to set a benchmark for the world in environmental protection and food security the access to and consistent availability of food. The plan aims to guarantee future fish stocks by preventing overfishing. Burke said he wanted the reserves to set a benchmark for the world in environmental protection and food security – access to and consistent availability of food. The plan aims to guarantee future fish stocks by preventing overfishing.
"We have an incredible opportunity to turn the tide on protection of the oceans and Australia can lead the world in marine protection," he said."We have an incredible opportunity to turn the tide on protection of the oceans and Australia can lead the world in marine protection," he said.
Don Henry, chief executive of the environmental group Australian Conservation Foundation, said the plan will make Australia a global leader in ocean protection. Don Henry, chief executive of the environmental group Australian Conservation Foundation, said the plan would make Australia a global leader in ocean protection.
But he warned that the remote northwest region where an offshore oil and gas industry is already established had been left vulnerable to the threats of further energy exploration. But he warned that the remote north-west region where an offshore oil and gas industry is already established had been left vulnerable to the threats of further energy exploration.
Rachel Siewert, a senator for the environmentally focused Greens party which supports the centre-left Labor Party minority government, described the plan as a "cave-in to the oil and gas industry." Rachel Siewert, a senator for the environmentally focused Greens party, which supports the centre-left Labor party minority government, described the plan as a "cave-in to the oil and gas industry".
Judy Lynne, chief executive of the recreational anglers' group Sunfish Queensland, said the ban on commercial operations in the most environmentally sensitive areas would result in more foreign trawlers fishing illegally.Judy Lynne, chief executive of the recreational anglers' group Sunfish Queensland, said the ban on commercial operations in the most environmentally sensitive areas would result in more foreign trawlers fishing illegally.