Gulf Today

Mexico creates national park to protect marine life

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Mexico city: mexico’ s government has created a marine park the size of Illinois In THE PACIFIC, THE largest ocean reserve in North America for the conservati­on of giant rays, whales and turtles, including dozens of species endemic to the area.

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto designated on Friday the Revillagig­edo Archipelag­o, located some 390 km (242 miles) southeast of the Baja California peninsula, as a national park.

The four volcanic islands that make up the Revillagig­edo Archipelag­o and the surroundin­g waters are home to hundreds of species of animals and plants, including rays, humpback whales, sea turtles, lizards and migratory birds.

The archipelag­o is sometimes known as the Galapagos of North America, in reference to the volcanic Ecuadorean islands whose abundance of endemic species inspired biologist Charles Darwin.

The 148,000 square kilometres area is a breeding ground for commercial­ly ISHED SPECIES such As tuna and sierra.

Now All ishing ACTIVITIES will BE prohibited, as well as the constructi­on of hotel infrastruc­ture on the islands.

The Environmen­t Ministry and Navy “will carry out surveillan­ce, equipment and training activities that will include remote monitoring in real time, environmen­tal education directed At fishermen AND sanctions AGAINST offenders,” said Pena Nieto.

The creation of the marine park is EXPECTED to Help recover ish population­s HIT HARD By Commercial ishing and was praised by the World Wildlife Fund and British billionair­e Richard Branson.

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