At the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, John Key announced that the ocean around the Kermadec Islands would be protected. This means no fishing or mining will be allowed inside 200 nautical miles of the islands. In 1990, a much smaller area – 7,500 square kilometres – became a marine reserve but now that will be extended. The size of the new marine sanctuary is 620,000 square kilometres which is about five times the size of the North Island. The Kermadec Islands belong to New Zealand.
The Kermadec Islands are 1,000 kilometres north east of Auckland. Anyone wanting to visit needs a special permit from the Department of Conservation. Usually it is only scientists who visit. There is a meteorological office to send weather reports, and a DOC station on Raoul Island, the biggest island.
The islands are the surface of a chain of 80 volcanoes. They were formed where the Pacific and Australian plates meet so earthquakes are quite frequent.
The islands are home to millions of seabirds, endangered turtles, unique shellfish, different kinds of fish, and dolphins. During spring, whales with their baby calves, pass on their way to Antarctica for the summer.
In the past, about 20 tonnes of fish, worth $165,000, were caught every year by commercial fishing boats in this area. Commercial fishing will not be allowed now. John Key’s announcement was widely reported around the world.
Vocabulary
• sanctuary (n) – safe place, protected place, a reserve
• nautical mile (n) – 1,852metres (used for sea and air travel)
• marine (adj) – sea
• extended (v)– made larger
• meteorological (adj) – often called the met office, weather station
• frequent (adj) – often
• unique (adj) – only in this place