WASHINGTON, DC — (Marketwire) — 04/23/12 — The Chilean Government has announced its intention to expand the Salas y Gómez marine reserve and to create a smaller reserve in Hanga Roa Bay — the harbor right off the main town and capital of historic Easter Island. This new marine conservation plan for Easter Island is set to be established by the end of the year.
The governmental also announced the plan to develop an assessment and status report of the main fisheries of Easter Island.
Following an expedition in 2010 to Salas y Gómez Island, led by Oceana, National Geographic, and the Waitt Foundation, the Chilean President announced the creation of the original Salas y Gómez marine reserve. This no-take reserve protects 150,000 square kilometers around the island — an area larger than Greece.
In 2011, Oceana and National Geographic Society partnered with the Chilean Navy and conducted an unprecedented expedition to study the marine area surrounding Easter Island and Salas y Gómez Island to assess their current states of conservation and potential need for new protection measures. Using the baseline study developed from this collaboration, Oceana proposed the expansion of the Salas y Gómez marine reserve, Motu Motiro Hiva, to an area of 411,000 km2, making it the second largest no-take marine protected area in the world.
“Our proposal aims to protect one of the most valuable marine ecosystems in the world and rebuild the main fisheries of Easter Island that are so important for the Rapa Nui community. We are extremely pleased that the Chilean government supports these measures to conserve the marine resources of Easter Island and Salas y Gómez Island,” stated Oceana Vice President for South America Alex Muñoz.
These marine protected areas can only officially be declared after a referendum is conducted for the Rapa Nui and they give their approval for the proposals. As the Rapa Nui are an indigenous people, they must be consulted in compliance with the Convention 169 about indigenous rights.
Easter Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called Moai. Salas y Gomez Island is a small uninhabited island 250 miles east of Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean. It was described by Dr. Enric Sala, marine ecologist and National Geographic Ocean Fellow, as one of the last undisturbed and relatively pristine places left in the ocean.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world–s oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 500,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit .
Contact:
Jessica Wiseman
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