An Australian
Institute Of Marine Science (AIMS) diver inspects large Porites
coral …
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia moved to set up the world's biggest
marine park on Friday to protect vast areas of the Coral Sea off
the country's northeast coast and the site of fierce naval battles
during World War Two.
Environment Minister Tony Burke said the park would cover almost 1
million square km -- an area the size of France and Germany
combined -- and would help protect fish, pristine coral reefs and
nesting sites for sea birds and the green turtle.
"The environmental significance of the Coral Sea lies in its
diverse array of coral reefs, sandy cays, deep sea plains and
canyons," Burke said. "It contains more than 20 outstanding
examples of isolated tropical reefs, sandy cays and islands."
The new park would also cover ships sunk in the Battle of the Coral
Sea, a series of naval engagements between Japanese, American and
Australian forces in 1942, considered the world's first aircraft
carrier battle.
Three U.S. ships were known to have sunk in the northeastern area
of the Coral Sea, the USS Lexington, the USS Sims and the USS
Neosho, Burke said.
The government will finalise what limits will be imposed on the
Coral Sea marine park, which will be within Australia's economic
zone, in 90 days.
The world's largest reserve currently was established by Britain
last year around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, which
includes coral atoll The Great Chagos Bank.
(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by Paul Tait)
