Sea World’s Competition

World's Largest Marine Sanctuary set for Australia

Animal Rights – Sea World’s got some big international competition.

Last week, the environmental minister of Australia, Tony Burke announced plans for the largest marine park in the world. The area, which will cover vast portions of the Coral Sea off the northeast coast of the continent, is said to be the size of France and Germany combined. The only other marine reserve of comparable size was established last year by Great Britain around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, an area that includes the coral atoll of The Great Chagos Bank.

The protected waters of the Coral Sea will help preserve many species of fish, rare coral reefs, and nesting sites for various types of seabirds and the green turtle. Said Burke, “The environmental significance of the Coral Sea lies in its diverse array of coral reefs, sandy cays, deep sea plains and canyons.” He continued, “It contains more than 20 outstanding examples of isolated tropical reefs, sandy cays and islands.”

The natural, national park will also encompass waters in which three United States naval ships sunk during the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942–the USS Lexington, the USS Sims, and the USS Neosho.

Australian government officials plan to finalize the deal on the Coral Sea marine sanctuary within the next three months. If you’re lucky enough to make to Australia in 2012, be sure to sea it for yourself!

Read more at The Guardian.