Photo:Richard Ling/WikimediaWWF has restated its determination to help create the world's largest marine park in the Coral Sea.Recently WWF supported a research expedition to the Coral Sea to monitor shark migration patterns, involving shark tagging with Cairns marine biologist and filmmaker Richard Fitzpatrick. As part of this trip WWF organised for two media outlets to be on board the vessel.WWF is delighted that there was so much media interest in conserving the Coral Sea, and many stories have featured prominently in print and television.
However, one particular story has created a perception that there is a fundamental difference between WWF and other conservation groups in their approach to conserving this magnificent marine treasure. This is incorrect.
"WWF wants the entire Coral Sea be declared as a Marine Park, with a very high level of protection contained within," said Dr Gilly Llewellyn WWF Australia Conservation Director.
The Coral Sea is a rare example of a marine environment that is thriving. Bountiful fish populations including grey and white tip reef sharks, hammerheads, manta rays, tuna, barracuda, turtles, whales and rare sea creatures such as the nautilus inhabit the waters, alongside an incredibly diverse range of corals.
"WWF works on marine issues all around the globe - and in virtually every other country it is a different story. Coral reefs are vanishing at a rate five times faster than the world's rainforests, and the populations of large marine species - such as sharks and tuna - are estimated to have declined by up to 90 percent in many areas," said Dr Llewellyn.
Due to its remoteness, the Coral Sea has largely managed to avoid this fate. The area is largely unprotected, leaving it vulnerable to the same impacts that have devastated other marine regions, including sea level rises caused by global warming, illegal fishing and the potential for large-scale oil and gas exploration in the region.
WWF-Australia believes the time has come to protect this tropical marine wilderness.
We are calling on all Australians to ask the Australian Government to declare the entire Coral Sea region a Marine Park. This would create the world's largest Marine Park and protect the Coral Sea for future generations, before irreversible damage is done.
