Sanctuaries at a snails pace.

The Federal government has been urged to establish marine sanctuaries for WA, covering a large expanse of ocean. New research has found that a plethora of important marine life exists, nine out of the ten species off the coast between Kalbari and Euchla were found nowhere else in the world. http://south-west marine bio regional plan

.The region also had a number of globally significant "hot-spots" for marine life, including Perth Canyon which is one of only two feeding sites in Australian waters, for the critically endangered blue whale. The Houtman-Abrolhos Islands and Australia's biggest underwater mountain range, the Diamantina Fracture Zone.
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Despite the one million square kilometre region being "critically important to the economic development of the State and nation", less than one per cent is protected in any form from threats such as overfishing and climate change. I find it appalling that Nationally barely 4 per cent of Australia's 16 million square kilometres of ocean is protected as a marine sanctuary.
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Professor Meeuwig from UWA centre for Marine Futures, believes large marine sanctuaries are critical to maintain the health of the marine environment and to help fish stocks recover and secure the future of commercial and recreational fishing. Just what are government waiting for, why do we have to lose so much before the "Penny Drops" and the blame game starts. Of course the government are already aware that sanctuaries would boost the region's $3 billion
marine-based tourism industry, nothing changes everything is measured by the dollar.