Stephen Leahy
Source: Inter Press Service [1]
October 25, 2010

Nagoya, Japan - One of Japan's closest allies declared over the weekend that all of its oceans—more than 600,000 square kilometres—would be a sanctuary for whales, dolphins, dugongs, sharks and other species.

"There will be no hunting or harassment of marine mammals and other species in our waters," said the Honourable Harry Fritz, minister of the environment, natural resources and tourism of the Republic of Palau.

"We urge other nations to join our efforts to protect whales, dolphins and other marine animals," Fritz said at a press conference during Oceans Day at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan.

To read the full text of the article, click here [2].