South Africa puts Southern Ocean protection on the map
15 May 2009
WWF-Australia today called on the Federal Government to dedicate the Budget’s $25.5 million for Antarctica to creating a network of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.
The call follows a recent move by the South African government to create the Southern Ocean’s largest marine protected area.
The new 180,000 square kilometre marine sanctuary will surround the Prince Edward and Marion Islands, 200 kilometres south of South Africa, and will be nearly three times the size of Tasmania.
Rob Nicoll, Antarctic and Southern Oceans Initiative Manager at WWF-Australia, applauded the South African decision and said the Australian Government should take advantage of the initiative and the momentum it has created within the Antarctic Treaty system.
“By creating their new marine protected area, the South African government has become a leader in conservation, helping protect this magnificent region from threats like invasive species, illegal and unreported fishing, marine pollution and some of the effects of climate change.”
“Prince Edward Island is home to nearly 30 species of animals including seals, penguins and albatross which are vulnerable to the threats from introduced predators such as rats, as well as pathogens they are not biologically prepared for,” said Mr Nicoll.
Before the South African commitment, Australia laid claim to the largest marine protected area in the Southern Ocean which surrounded Macquarie Island, an important global biodiversity hotspot.
“There is nearly 10,000 kilometres of ocean between Australia’s Macquarie Island and South Africa’s Prince Edward Island, an area that has abundant marine life. Only a network of high-seas marine protected areas linking the two will secure the area’s biodiversity,” said Mr Nicoll.
At April’s Antarctic Treaty meeting governments agreed to work towards the establishment of effective, representative and coherent networks of protected areas within the Antarctic Treaty area by 2012.
Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International called South Africa’s commitment globally significant.
“South Africa plays a key role with several other countries including Australia, in protecting the amazing biodiversity and commercially important fisheries of the sub-Antarctic. It is helping to establish a fully representative, viable and effective MPA network for the Southern Ocean.”
More information
Jonathon Larkin, Media Officer
Phone: 0410 221 410
Email: jlarkin@wwf.org.au
