UK Chancellor George Osborne announced the go-ahead for the world’s largest single marine reserve at Pitcairn Islands in the South Pacific, covering 322,138 square miles (834,334 square km), an area 3 1/2 times the size of the United Kingdom and larger than California and even Texas. Officially known as the Pitcairn Islands or the Pitcairn Group of Islands (or simply Oeno), the Pitcairn Islands are four volcanic islands in the south Pacific Ocean. With a population just 56,, Pitcairn is the only inhabited island. Pitcairn’s single largest marine reserve has been declared. Image: Pew. HM Treasury stated in Budget 2015: that the government would designate a MPA around Pitcairn. This will depend on agreement between NGOs using satellite monitoring, with relevant authorities to stop illegal landings, and on identifying a practical navy method to enforce the MPA. The two organisations that worked to survey the wildlife on the islands, the National Geographic Society (Pew), welcomed this move. Pew states that the area contains more than one ,249 species each of marine mammals, fish and seabirds. It also protects the “most near-pristine ocean habitat” on Earth. Proposal in 2013 In 2009, National Geographic and Pew teamed up with the Pitcairn Island Council to submit a proposal for the establishment of a marine reserve that would protect the area’s spectacular waters. Matt Rand, Director of Global Ocean Legacy, an initiative of Pew and partners said that “With this designation the United Kingdom raises standards for ocean protection and sets new standards for other countries to follow.” The United Kingdom, which covers more than 6,000,000 square kilometers of ocean, is fifth in the world. “British citizens play a crucial role in protecting our seas. Pitcairn islands Marine Reserve will create a sanctuary of unspoiled ocean for the protection and conservation of a rich marine life. With just 56 residents, Pitcairn has the lowest population of any national jurisdiction. National Geographic Image. The UK is trying to end illegal fishing in the UK’s territorial waters, National Geographic reports. The reserve will ban all fishing and seafloor mining, with the exception of traditional fishing in Pitcairn’s waters by local residents. The highest protection percentage of any country on Earth is now at thirty percent. Enric Sala, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, said: “People know Pitcairn because of the Mutiny on the Bounty, but their real bounty is the rich marine life underwater.” Adamstown, the capital of Pitcairn. Image: Wikipedia. Pitcairn’s residents are descendants of British sailors, who rebelled on HMS Bounty (1798),. They also include the Tahitian and Polynesian women who settled there. Mister Sala said that “The Pitcairn Islands boast some of the most clean waters in the world.” It is believed that 20% all the fish in our oceans have been illegally landed, in spite of endless promises by countries around the globe to do so. Reuters quoted a 2009 report that estimated illegal fishing to be worth between $106 billion and $23.5 trillion annually. Pew Video: Pitcairn is the largest marine reserve in the world
