Marshall Islands creates world’s largest shark sanctuary
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The world’s largest shark sanctuary has been created in the Marshall Islands, almost doubling the world’s total shark protection area. The government has elected to ban commercial shark fishing and the trade in shark products throughout its territorial waters, creating a protected area of over 2,000,000km2. Fishing and habitat degradation are threatening shark and ray populations in a region that relies on tourism, and diving, as an economic staple.
Commenting on the move, Senator Tony deBrum told the BBC; “In passing this bill, there is no greater statement we can make about the importance of sharks to our culture, environment and economy.
“Ours may be a small island nation, but our waters are now the biggest place sharks are protected.”