(Sydney) Australia plans to create a marine park the size of Spain around remote islands off its southeast coast, the government announced on Sunday.
The project aims to triple the size of the Macquarie Island Marine Park, bringing the total area of the protected area to 475,465 square kilometres.
These protective measures mean that the area will be “totally closed to fishing, mining and other extractive activities”, according to Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Existing fishing operations targeting Patagonian toothfish (a carnivorous fish) may nevertheless continue.
Macquarie Island sits halfway between Australia and Antarctica and is home to king penguins, fur seals and a subantarctic science centre.
“Macquarie Island is an exceptional place. It is a wonder for flora and fauna, an essential breeding ground for millions of seabirds, seals and penguins,” said Ms.me Plibersek.
Environmental groups support the initiative, fearing the area could become the target of seabed mining and unsustainable commercial fishing.