Cook Islands Makes Way For The Largest Shark Sanctuary
Author:
First published in Sanctuary Asia,
Vol. 33
No. 2,
February 2013
"This is hopeful news for the world's sharks and our efforts to protect them," said Jill Hepp, Director, Global Shark Conservation, Pew Environment Group. "We are thrilled to see the Cook Islands become part of this global movement during a time when so many shark populations are threatened."
"We are proud, as Cook Islanders, to provide our entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ), an area of 1.9 million sq. km., as a shark sanctuary," said the Honorable Teina Bishop, Cook Islands Minister ofMarine Resources. "Together with our Polynesian neighbour, Tahiti Nui (French Polynesia), we have created the largest shark sanctuary in the world. We join our Pacific neighbours to protect this animal, which is very vital to the health of our oceans, and our culture."
Source: Sanctuary Asia.
