New Zealand Unveils a New Marine Sanctuary the Size of France in the South Pacific

Lisa Spear

Osman Orsal—ReutersNew Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key speaks during a dawn ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli, at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli April 25, 2015

The new zone forms part of a 1.3 million-sq.-mi. network of marine reserves in the Pacific

A massive marine sanctuary is being established off New Zealand’s South Pacific coast to safeguard a variety of sea life — including dolphins, whales, turtles and bird species.

The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary around 600 miles off the antipodean nation’s northeast coast will contain 240,000 sq. mi. of ocean that is considered one of the world’s most pristine environments but is increasingly under threat from fishing and mineral exploitation, reports AFP. Read more.