Source: The Daily Examiner
January 2, 2012

"TWO eminent tropical marine scientists have urged Australians to get behind a plan by the Federal Government to transform nearly a million square kilometres of the Coral Sea into the world's largest marine park.

Professors Terry Hughes and Bob Pressey, from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University, said the Coral Sea was one of a just a handful of places in the world where a large oceanic no-take park could be created and monitored in a single national jurisdiction.

"Public comment on the proposal is now open - and it is time for all Australians to have their say," they said.

Prof Hughes said t was vital the Coral Sea's immense environmental and heritage values were protected from the rapidly escalating threats of overfishing and climate change while there was still time to do so."

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