Aus urged to protect Coral Sea
2008-09-10 20:08
Sydney - An alliance of environmentalists, marine scientists and former navy officers urged Australia on Wednesday to establish a vast conservation area in the Coral Sea to protect marine animals, reefs and World War II history.
The Coral Sea Campaign proposes the creation of a one million-square-kilometre Coral Sea Heritage Park where fishing would be banned. If the federal government approves the park, it will be the world's largest protected marine area.
The sea, hosting more than 25 coral reefs and a network of underwater mountains and canyons, is historically important as the site of the pivotal 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea. The Allies scored a strategic victory by preventing Japanese forces from landing in New Guinea and likely curbing Japan's gains in the South Pacific.
"Its environmental significance and its historic importance as the site of the battle that turned the tide of World War II in our region make the Coral Sea a treasure worth protecting for future generations," said Imogen Zethoven, director of the Coral Sea Campaign, which is led by the independent non-profit Pew Environment Group.
Speakers at the launch of the campaign said the area is one of the few remaining sanctuaries for an abundant population of sharks, tuna, swordfish and marlin, which are overfished in other seas. It is also one of the few areas where significant populations of endangered Hawksbill and Green sea turtles exist, and is home to 25 species of whales and dolphins, and 13 species of sea birds.
In addition to its marine life, the sea is also the site of the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first World War II sea fight involving aircraft carriers. The USS Lexington was lost, along with 216 of her crew, and two other American ships went down. The Japanese lost one small carrier.
'Demonstration of leadership'
Retired Vice Admiral David Shackleton, a Coral Sea Campaign partner and former chief of Australia's navy, called the sea an "ocean monument" to the troops who fought there. He also urged protection of the area to stem the decline of marine life and the onset of climate change.
"A large no-take Coral Sea reserve would be a clear demonstration of Australia's leadership in protection our global maritime heritage," Shackleton said.
The campaign has submitted its proposal to Environment Minister Peter Garrett and hopes to have a decision by early next year.
A spokesperson for Garrett said more than 17 000 square kilometres of the Coral Sea are already protected in marine reserves.
"The protection and management of Australia's unique marine environment is a high priority" for the government, the spokesperson said, asking not to be named according to department policy. "The government is currently looking closely at the case for further protection of the Coral Sea and will be consulting with stakeholders before the government makes any decisions in this regard."
The proposed no-fishing park lies just east of the Great Barrier Reef, on Australia's northeastern coast, and would extend to the country's maritime boundaries with Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.
Protected areas
Less than 0.1% of the world's oceans are fully protected, compared with the 11% of land habitats that are protected, the campaign said in a news release.
Earlier this year, the Pacific nation of Kiribati declared the world's largest marine protected area - a California-sized area of 410 500 square kilometres just off its shores.
In 2006, US President George W Bush designated a 362 600-square kilometre no-fishing sanctuary in the waters northwest of Hawaii. The campaign for the Hawaii park was also spearheaded by the Pew Environment Group, a part of the independent, non-profit US-based Pew Charitable Trusts.
- SAPA