Bangladesh Creates New Marine Protected Area for Dolphins, Whales, Sharks, and Sea Turtles

The Government of Bangladesh has created the country’s first marine protected area that will now safeguard whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and other oceanic species, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The creation of the “Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area” occurs as the world’s conservation community prepares to meet at the World Parks Congress, a global event held every 10 years for the purpose of promoting and safeguarding the earth’s most valuable natural places and formulating solutions to conservation challenges. The World Parks Congress will take place in Sydney, Australia, November 12-19.

“Bangladesh brings us excellent news as we prepare for the World Parks Congress, a once-in-a-decade event where the conservation community from around the world will gather to discuss and make progress in improving the management and expansion of protected areas on the land and in the oceans,” said Dr. Cristián Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society. “The Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area—created to protect whales, dolphins, sharks, and other marine life—helps us on our way to reaching the global target of protecting 10 percent of the ocean’s ecosystems by 2020.”

The Swatch of No Ground Marine Protected Area (SoNG MPA) was signed into law by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on October 27, 2014.

Said Yunus Ali, Chief Conservator of Forests of the Government of Bangladesh: “This is a momentous occasion for Bangladesh and we are proud to protect the rich diversity of marine species inhabiting our waters.”

Rubaiyat Mansur of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project added: “The SoNG MPA supports an astonishing diversity of dolphins, porpoises and whales including species in need of immediate protection. Declaration of Bangladesh’s first Marine Protected Area shows our country’s commitment to saving its natural resources and wonders.”
Source: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/625585/?sc=rssn