November 13, 2012
Made up of ten islands off the coast of northern Mozambique, this coastal marine reserve in the Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago will cover more than 4020 square miles. Photo by: Caroline Simmonds/WWF-US.
"The declaration of Primeiras and Segundas is an incredible achievement for both marine conservation and the people who depend on these resources. Mozambique's coast feeds hundreds of thousands of people. The stunning reefs, islands, and marine life will now be protected. We won a victory today with the declaration of Primeiras and Segundas—a great triumph for protecting the world’s marine environment," Caroline Simmonds, Deputy Director for WWF-US's Coastal East Africa Program, said in a statement. WWF has worked in the region for years toward better management and protection.
The new protected area has been heavily fished by both commercial fisheries and artisanal fisheries with all targets considered overexploited. The Mozambique government said the new protections would safeguard fish nesting areas. In addition the area is home to important breeding grounds for marine turtles, dugongs, and seabirds.
The government is still working on a management plan for the region which will include regulated tourism.
The new marine reserve will help Mozambican communities and government manage both terrestrial and marine resources in this area for a sustainable future. Photo by: Marcia Marsh/WWF-US.
The Primeiras and Segundas archipelago is home to five of the world's seven marine turtle species. Photo by: Jason Rubens/WWF.
Located in between Nampula and Zambezia Provinces, this new coastal marine reserve is a key breeding site for dugong. Photo courtesy of WWF.
Green turtle. WWF and CARE are working together with ocean community guards in this area to rescue green turtles and build awareness. Photo by: Martin Harvey/WWF.
Above the ocean: saving the world's most threatened birds
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Great Barrier Reef loses half its coral in less than 30 years
(10/01/2012) The Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its coral cover in the last 27 years, according to a new study released today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Based on over 2,000 surveys from 1985 to this year the study links the alarming loss to three impacts: tropical cyclone damage, outbreaks crown-of-thorns starfish that devour corals, and coral bleaching.
Penguins face a slippery future
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World failing to meet promises on the oceans
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Australia sets aside 40 percent of its waters for protection
(06/14/2012) In an announcement to coincide with the beginnings of the UN's Rio+20 Summit on Sustainable Development, Australia has announced ambitious plans to protect 3.1 million square kilometers (1.19 million square miles) of its ocean, including the Coral Sea. If enacted, the proposition will increase Australia's marine protected areas from 27 to 60, covering about 40 percent of Australia's waters.