Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Island Nation Creates Largest Shark Sanctuary

Protected area size of Mexico

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 3, 2011 8:04 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Mexico-size chunk of the Pacific will soon be a haven for sharks—and they have a tiny island nation to thank. The Marshall Islands’ government is declaring its waters off-limits to commercial shark fishing and the trade of shark products, the BBC reports, providing the creatures with 750,000 square miles of worry-free swimming. “There is no greater statement we can make about the importance of sharks to our culture, environment, and economy,” says a senator.

“Ours may be a small island nation, but our waters are now the biggest place sharks are protected.” Violators of the new rules will face up to $300,000 in fines. It’s “the strongest legislation to protect sharks that we have seen,” says a shark-conservation rep for the Pew Environmental Group, and the move ups sharks' protected area worldwide to about 1.8 million square miles. Keeping a close eye on fishing boats is good news for marine biodiversity in general, the BBC notes. But some question how the rules can be enforced over such a large area.

The protected area is 750,000 square miles. (Shutterstock)

The protected area is 750,000 square miles. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

91%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

A Third of America's Bird Species in Trouble

Development sending large numbers of native species into decline

(NEWSER) - Almost a third of America's bird species are in peril from habitat destruction and other threats, according to a federal report released yesterday. The study, which may spur the Obama administration to increase regulation in some areas to protect the animals, found that 67 of America's over 800 bird species are endangered and 184 more are threatened or in serious decline, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»

2011's Elephant Carnage: Tens of Thousands

Populations on decline across Africa, wildlife groups warn

(NEWSER) - The mass slaughter of elephants and rhinos in Africa by poachers has once again reached crisis levels, warns the world body that tracks endangered species. As many as tens of thousands of elephants were slaughtered by poachers last year alone, and the illegal trade in tusks and horns is "pushing these species toward extinction," the chief of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species told a Senate committee yesterday, warning that elephants are now in decline in every region of Africa. More»

First Surrogate Otter Mom Dies

Toola showed that rescued pups could return to the wild

(NEWSER) - Staff at California's Monterey Bay Aquarium are mourning the most remarkable sea otter they have ever encountered. Toola, who died at age 15, was the first captive sea otter ever to serve as a surrogate mother to others, raising a total of 13 pups, some of which now lead their own packs in the wild. She was rescued in 2001 and became mother to an orphaned pup weeks afterward, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. She suffered a brain infection that required twice-daily medication and prevented her release back into the wild. More»

Sharks Massacred Off Colombia

An estimated 2,000 discovered with missing fins in sanctuary

(NEWSER) - Divers have discovered the bodies of some 2,000 sharks, many with their fins cut off, in Colombian waters. The apparent slaughter of Galapagos, silky, and hammerhead sharks occurred in a giant wildlife sanctuary around the island of Malpelo off the country’s coast, the Guardian reports. The divers, who were researching the shark population, spotted 10 fishing trawlers “entering the zone illegally,” said a Colombian environmental official. All reportedly flew Costa Rican flags. More»

Bahamas Bans Shark Fishing

It follows a similar move in Honduras

(NEWSER) - Score another one for the sharks: The Bahamas has banned shark fishing in its coastal waters, becoming the second Caribbean nation to institute a ban in the past month, the Washington Post reports. It is now illegal to fish for sharks in 240,000 square miles of water surrounding the Bahamas, which is heavily dependent on tourism. Shark tourism in particular generates $80 million a year, and 40 different species of shark swim in its waters. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Island Nation Creates Largest Shark Sanctuary

Protected area size of Mexico

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

environment • conservation • wildlife • sanctuary • Pew Environment Group • sharks • Marshall Islands

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

A Third of America's Bird Species in Trouble

Development sending large numbers of native species into decline

2011's Elephant Carnage: Tens of Thousands

Populations on decline across Africa, wildlife groups warn

First Surrogate Otter Mom Dies

Toola showed that rescued pups could return to the wild

Sharks Massacred Off Colombia

An estimated 2,000 discovered with missing fins in sanctuary

Bahamas Bans Shark Fishing

It follows a similar move in Honduras

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?