Coral Sea vote a victory for common sense
19 Nov 2009
The Senate's support of the Federal Government's Coral Sea conservation zone is a victory for common sense and paves the way for the protection of one of the planet's last refuges for sharks and coral reefs.
The Australian Labor Party, the Australian Greens and Senator Nick Xenophon last night voted down a motion by National Party Senator Ron Boswell and Liberal Party Senator Ian Macdonald to disallow the Coral Sea conservation zone.
"This was a welcome endorsement of the Coral Sea's important natural values and will allow the proper process to be followed in determining whether it should receive further protection," said WWF Coral Triangle Program Manager Richard Leck.
"The conservation zone will not affect existing users of the Coral Sea but will ensure this important marine area is not impacted by additional activities while the assessment process is undertaken."
The Coral Sea is one of the last places on Earth where healthy populations of sharks and other large ocean fish still exist. It is also an important refuge for coral reefs at a time when corals are disappearing all over the world.
The future of coral reefs in some parts of the world is so bleak that leading marine scientists this month recommended a 'Coral Bank' of cryogenically frozen coral species be established to preserve them after they have disappeared from the oceans.
"The Coral Sea is an area where coral reefs have their best chance of surviving long into the future, and its health directly affects the health of the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Leck said.
"Now that the conservation zone is in place we must get on with the job of permanently protecting this extraordinary marine jewel."
More information
Richard Leck, WWF Program Manager - Coral Triangle
Mobile: 0439 814 847
