Boating New Zealand — January 2018

12 Boating New Zealand

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I

n a radical step to help the

conservation of marine creatures

such as whales, giant rays and

turtles, Mexico’s government

has created North America’s largest

ocean reserve around its Revillagigedo

islands, some 390km south-west of

the Baja California peninsula.

The 150,000 km^2 protected area

includes four volcanic islands – the

Revillagigedo archipelago – which

are part of a submerged volcanic

mountain range.

The local ecosystem supports some

400 species of fish, sharks and rays

and is home to hundreds of species

of animals and plants, lizards and

migratory birds. It’s also the breeding

ground for commercially-fished species

such as tuna and sierra.

These have suffered, unable to

reproduce fast enough. With all fishing

activities now prohibited, the new

reserve will be key to their recovery.

Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña

Nieto, says the move also bans mining

and the construction of new hotels on

the islands. The area will be policed by

the Mexican navy.

The United Nations convention on

biological diversity aims to protect 10

percent of the world’s oceans by 2020

• a goal many conservationists believe
  is far too conservative.

MEXICO’S MASSIVE NEW OCEAN RESERVE

The local ecosystem supports some 400

species of fish, sharks and rays and is

home to hundreds of species....