A huge stretch of sea in Papua New Guinea is being closed to fishing, with 200,000 square kilometres of tropical waters in the Coral Triangle now set aside as a marine protected area.
The newly designated Western Manus Marine Protected Area will form part of the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves, a network of national and jointly managed protected areas spanning Fiji, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
The protected area was revealed at the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby in mid-May. The Western Manus ocean region in PNG’s territorial waters is marked by undersea mountains and volcanoes, ridgelines and canyons, and harbours high biodiversity.
Scientists have described it as a “marine highway” linking shallow corals with deep water zones that support pelagic life, including seasonally migrating orcas, the deep-sea fish yokozuna slickhead, Cuvier’s beaked whale, and more than 100 species of coral.
“Papua New Guinea is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet,” said Jelta Wong, minister of the country’s National Fisheries Authority. “Establishing the Western Manus Marine Protected Area will allow us to preserve and protect our ecological legacy and, at the same time, ensure that our ocean continues to provide people with what we need, food and a source of income.”
Located in the north of PNG’s territorial waters, the 77,000 square mile reserve covers seas that account for 10 percent of the country’s tuna fisheries and about 6.7 percent of all fishing output.
The decision is part of PNG’s commitment to conserve 30 percent of its territorial waters.
The Western Manus area was included in the survey itinerary of the National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition, which spent two years documenting the biodiversity of the Coral Triangle.
Researchers found one of the world’s healthiest and most diverse coral ecosystems, but also warning signs. Shark populations were low, which the source said was a clear hint at overfishing for other predatory fish such as tuna.
The 200,000 square kilometres included in the marine protected area were selected after key mobile species were tracked to map movements between the deep sea and coral reefs. Grey reef sharks were tracked, and seabirds capable of foraging 200 miles a day were also used in the survey.
“Our ancestors have always lived in harmony with the sea, but today, we are writing a new chapter for our children,” stated Powes Parkop, governor of the National Capital District, who grew up in Manus Province. “To see the waters of Western Manus recognized as the largest marine protected area in Papua New Guinea fills my heart with a profound sense of… pride. We aren’t just protecting fish or coral; we are safeguarding our identity.”
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