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Graphic released by Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities shows the proposed Commonwealth marine reserves areas around Australia. |
Canberra: The Australian Government has announced that it is developing marine reserves in Commonwealth waters as part of country’s marine bioregional planning process.
The proposed project will cover 3.1 million square kilometers of ocean, including the Coral Sea, off Australia’s northeast coast.
There will be restrictions on fishing and oil and gas exploration in protected zones.
Australia’s announcement coincides with the build-up to the Rio+20 Earth Summit next week in Brazil where international leaders from more than 130 nations will gather to discuss protecting key parts of the environment.
The final 'Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network' proposal has been designed to minimise social and economic impacts whilst creating a system of marine protected areas that represent Australia's diversity of marine ecosystems and habitats and the life they support.