The UK Government has announced it is setting up the world’s largest single marine reserve around the seas of Pitcairn Islands in the South Pacific, covering an area of 834,334 square kilometres (322,138 square miles), which is about 3.5 times the size of the UK and larger than Texas or California. This announcement was published in Tuesday’s March Budget by Chancellor George Osborne. This wonderful piece of news was more important than the other tax, savings, and spend pledges in the March Budget. Pitcairn Group of Islands is located midway between Chile and New Zealand. It consists of four volcanic islands: Pitcairn, Oeno and Ducie, and Henderson. The population is 56. It is the largest marine reserve in the world. Image: Pew Charitable Trusts. Pitcairn is home to British sailors who rebelled on HMS Bounty and their Tahitian or Polynesian partners. Budget HM Treasury stated that the government would designate a Marine Protected Area (MPA) around Pitcairn. This is contingent upon agreement between NGOs and satellite monitoring, and authorities in the relevant ports to stop illegal landings. It also requires a method for enforcing this MPA using a naval method. The news was welcomed by the National Geographic Society (Pew), and two organizations – the Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Geographic Society. Pew claims that the region, home to more than 1 species seabirds and fish, and is protected by “some of most pristine ocean habitats on Earth,” and is also the location of some of the best populations of sharks and top predators of all underwater environments on Earth. Many marine species can only be found around these islands. This includes the rare Pitcairn angelfish and Henderson petrel, both of which were photographed in 2012, for the first-time. The waters of the Pitcairn Islands are among the most clean in the entire world. Image: Wikimedia. A conservation proposal was submitted in 2013 Pitcairn Island Council submitted it to Pew, National Geographic and National Geographic. The proposal called for the establishment of a marine reserve in order to preserve the island’s wildlife. Matt Rand, Director of Global Ocean Legacy said that “This designation raises the standard in ocean protection and sets an example for other countries to follow.” The United Kingdom, which covers more than 6,000,000 kilometres of seafloor, is fifth in the world. Pitcairn Island Marine Reserve will create a sanctuary of unspoiled ocean to preserve and conserve marine life. The Titan Triggerfish is a predator that can be deadly and was cleaned by the Cleaner Wrasse, which is a tiny fish in its mouth and eyes. National Geographic felicitated the British Government for its decision to end illegal fishing, which threatens wildlife living in the territorial waters. This new policy will prohibit all fishing and seafloor mining in the marine reserve. Traditional fishing near Pitcairn, however, will not be affected by this measure. Today, 30% of British waters are under protection, which is the highest level of any country. National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Enric Sala, said: “People know Pitcairn because of the Mutiny on the Bounty, but their real bounty is the rich marine life underwater. Pitcairn islands have the most clean waters anywhere in the world. According to Reuters, around one-fifth of fish found in oceans is illegally caught. An 2009 survey found that illegal fishing is worth between $105 and $23.5 trillion annually. Pew Video: The Pitcairn Marine Reserve
