Thu Jan 30 11:30:00 UTC 2025: **Marshall Islands Establishes Massive New Marine Protected Area**
MAJURO, Marshall Islands – The Republic of the Marshall Islands has announced the creation of its first national marine sanctuary, a 48,000-square kilometer protected area encompassing the Bikar and Bokak atolls. This marks the first new marine protected area (MPA) of 2025.
The sanctuary, established under the nation’s “Reimaanlok” conservation initiative, will safeguard what is believed to be one of the largest shark populations and the largest green turtle nesting colony in the Marshall Islands. The remote, uninhabited atolls, described as pristine ecosystems by National Geographic Pristine Seas, will be completely closed to fishing.
The decision follows a 2023 expedition by Pristine Seas and the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), which documented exceptionally healthy coral reefs, high biodiversity, and abundant populations of vulnerable species including large grouper, Napoleon wrasse, and bumphead parrotfish. The research team also discovered potentially new species of fish and invertebrates in the deep-sea communities.
President Hilda Heine stated that the creation of the sanctuary is crucial for the country’s economic stability and cultural identity, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ocean health and the well-being of the Marshallese people. MIMRA Director Glen Joseph highlighted that this initiative demonstrates that marine protection and food production are not mutually exclusive.
The new MPA is part of a larger global effort spearheaded by National Geographic Pristine Seas, which has been instrumental in establishing 29 of the world’s largest MPAs, covering over 6.8 million square kilometers. The Marshall Islands’ initiative underscores a growing international commitment to marine conservation and sustainable resource management.
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