FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2025 — The Republic of the Marshall Islands has announced its first marine protected area in the Pacific Ocean, a “stunning dedication to ocean protection for Pacific heritage”, says Greenpeace.
The country’s first national ocean sanctuary, which covers 48,0002 kilometres of ocean – bigger than Switzerland/more than 260 times the size of the Marshall Islands’ land mass – puts the Marshall Islands on the podium as a leader in ocean protection on the world stage.
Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “Greenpeace congratulates the Republic of Marshall Islands on this stunning dedication to ocean protection for Pacific heritage.
“The ocean is a living heritage, connecting the Pacific’s past, present and future. Protecting the ocean means protecting its treasures – the livelihoods, legacy, cultural heritage and future of Pacific people – for generations to come.
“The Marshall Islands are unique and rich in life, but are threatened by colonialism, a heating ocean, and the devastating and ongoing impacts of nuclear testing by western nations.
“The Marshall Islands has a long history as champion for ocean protection, resisting the encroaching threat of deep sea mining by declaring support for a precautionary pause. We now need all nations to follow suit and stop deep sea mining before it starts.
“The Pacific must be protected; a thriving ocean is a thriving people.”
The area around atolls Bikar and Bokak, as well as the nearby deep sea, will be fully protected from fishing, allowing a safe haven for marine life to recover and thrive.
Marine sanctuaries are crucial to sustaining ocean health around the world. Greenpeace is urging governments worldwide to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty quickly to achieve the 30×30 target and start developing proposals for marine protected areas in the high seas.
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