[jimmy]

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[bdonlan]

Many Cook Islanders make their living by fishing or tourism, both of which are under threat. Climate change has hurt fishing, and the Covid-19 pandemic severely affected international tourism. During the lull in international travel, the government reevaluated the country’s reliance on tourism and its effect on traditional ways of life. They hope to develop more diversified economy.

[jeffreyralph]

Conservation benefit: Community support for Marae Moana, the world’s largest marine park

[jackraymund]

Alan Friedlander is currently chief scientist for National Geographic’s Pristine Seas Project, an initiative that focusses on marine protection and raising awareness about why it’s necessary.

[noxion]

Marae Moana a “key strategy” for restoring the health of our oceans more

[Stefan Thomas]

The accomplished scientist, who has visited the Cook Islands before, kindly answered some questions about Marae Moana via email. His answers have been lightly edited. [links]

[schlow22]

[Saul]

[links]

[marie]

more

[ConfusedEnthusiast]

Three globally threatened marine turtle species have been identified in Marae Moana – the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta). The Green and Loggerhead Turtles are endangered and the Hawksbill critically endangered.

[nicecook12]

Marae Moana extends over 1.976 million square kilometres of ocean. This is the entire Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone which lies from 6 degrees south to 25 degrees south and 155 degrees west to 169 degrees west. The park is comprised of fifteen tropical islands with fringing coral reefs. These islands include seven atolls, four upraised coral reef islands (“makatea”), two sand cays, one almost atoll and one volcanic island. The open ocean dominates the park, with the islands making up only 237 square kilometres or 0.02% of the total area.

[ArrowJ]

Key Biodiversity Areas and Important Bird Areas

[cyxob]

There are six reef shark species and eleven pelagic shark species found in Marae Moana. more

[dasdedee]

Where more than 99% of their home is ocean, government and traditional leaders recognize that healthy waters mean healthy people and stable livelihoods.

[FreddyFender]

To promote sustainable development and balance economic growth with conservation of the ocean’s natural assets, in 2012, the Cook Islands government, traditional Maori leaders and local communities declared the Cook Islands Marine Park — the second largest of its kind in the world. The park will ​provide protection of 1.1 million square kilometers (425,000 square miles) of the southern half of the country’s EEZ, which includes remote atolls, high volcanic islands surrounded by fringing reefs and native fauna associated with underwater mountains. more

[Julipan]

Rich with marine biodiversity, including rare seabirds, beaked whales, manta rays and several threatened shark species, the country’s 15 small islands — home to about 15,000 people — also host growing industries such as tourism, fishing and deep sea mining. more