SYDNEY - Australia recently announced plans to create the world’s largest network of marine parks to protect ocean life, with limits placed on fishing and oil and gas exploration off the coast.The new reserves would cover 3.1 million square kilometres or more than one-third of Australian waters, taking in significant breeding and feeding grounds.
The announcement, after years of planning and consultation, came ahead of the Rio+20 summit on sustainable development next week in Brazil, which Environment Minister Tony Burke (right photo) and Prime Minister Julia Gillard will attend.- According to Burke, it's time for the world to turn a corner on protection of our oceans.
- This new network of marine reserves will help ensure that Australia's diverse marine environment, and the life it supports, remain healthy, productive and resilient for future generations.
- The network will increase the number of reserves from 27 to 60, expanding protection of creatures such as the blue whale, green turtle, critically endangered populations of grey nurse sharks, and dugongs.
- While some limits will be placed on where energy companies can work, tracts of coast off Western Australia, where Shell and Woodside Petroleum recently won permits, will still be open to oil and gas exploration.
It follows warnings from Unesco that the heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef was at risk of being declared "in danger" due to an unprecedented resources boom which will see a massive increase in ship traffic and offshore industries.The Australian Conservation Foundation welcomed the reserves initiative, calling it ‘‘a historic achievement’’, but said it was concerned that some areas remained under threat.
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