SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia moved yesterday to protect a swathe of ocean territory by expanding an Antarctic marine park that is home to penguins, seals, whales and the country’s only two active volcanos.
The marine reserve – Heard Island and McDonald Island – located 1,700 kilometres from Antarctica, will quadruple in size under the announcement.
This means 52 per cent of the nation’s seas will be protected, a government statement said, cementing Australia’s place among leading countries safeguarding seas.
It will also see Australia blitz the global 30 per cent United Nations target by 2030 that Australia signed up to in 2022.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the announcement was a “huge environmental win”.
