Article Summary:

The BBC has reported that the Marshall Islands government has created the world’s largest shark sanctuary, covering nearly two million sq. km (750,000 sq miles) of ocean. Under the bill, commercial shark fishing and any trade in shark products will be banned, and any sharks accidentally caught must be released alive.

“In passing this [shark protection] bill, there is no greater statement we can make about the importance of sharks to our culture, environment and economy,” said Senator Tony deBrum, who co-sponsored the bill through the Marshallese parliament. “Ours may be a small island nation, but our waters are now the biggest place sharks are protected.”

US-based Pew Environment group has also been involved in the drafting of the new legislation and has details of the new sanctuary on its website.