Acropora latistella (Table coral) in the Coral Triangle – credit, Nhobgood Nick Hobgood CC 3.0. SA
In the legendary Coral Triangle, where the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet, 200,000 square kilometers of tropical seas will be off limits to fishing thanks to bold conservation action by Papua New Guinea.
The newly-designated Western Manus Marine Protected Area (MPA) will form part of the newly established Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves, a network of national and jointly managed protected areas spanning Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea.
Revealed at the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby in mid-May, the Western Manus ocean region in PNG’s territorial waters is characterized by undersea mountains and volcanoes, ridgelines, and canyons, harboring remarkable biodiversity.
Scientists have called it a “marine highway” connecting shallow corals with deep water zones bursting with pelagic life: orcas that migrate there seasonally, the giant deep-sea fish known as a yokozuna slickhead, Cuvier’s beaked whale, and over a hundred species of coral.
“Papua New Guinea is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet,” said Jelta Wong, minister of the country’s National Fisheries Authority. “Establishing the Western Manus Marine Protected Area will allow us to preserve and protect our ecological legacy and, at the same time, ensure that our ocean continues to provide people with what we need – food and a source of income.”
Located in the north of PNG’s territorial waters, the 77,000 square-mile reserve covers seas which account for 10% of the country’s tuna fisheries, and about 6.7% of all fishing output. However, as Oceanographic Magazine writes, previous research has found that once MPAs have been established, catch rates tend to increase in boundary areas—the result of a spillover effect from a robust and unharmed natural environment.
The decision comes as part of PNG’s commitment to conserve 30% of its territorial waters.
The Western Manus area was included in the survey itinerary of the National Geographic Pristine Sea’s expedition, which sought to document the biodiversity of the Coral Triangle over 2 years.
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What they found was one of the world’s healthiest and most diverse coral ecosystems, but with warning signs that not all might be well. Shark populations were low—a clear hint at overfishing for other predatory fish like tuna.
The 200,000 square kilometers that encompass the MPA weren’t selected at random. Instead, key mobile species were tracked to get a sense of the movements of animals between the deep sea and the coral reefs. Grey reef sharks obliged the surveyors, while seabirds capable of foraging 200 miles a day were also consulted.
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“Our ancestors have always lived in harmony with the sea, but today, we are writing a new chapter for our children,” stated Powes Parkop, governor of the National Capital District, who grew up in Manus Province.
“To see the waters of Western Manus recognized as the largest marine protected area in Papua New Guinea fills my heart with a profound sense of… pride. We aren’t just protecting fish or coral; we are safeguarding our identity.”
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