On February 27, the Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, signed the decrees to create 5 new Marine Protected Areas that will contribute to give 42% of the marine surface of this country some degree of protection.
Sea elephant in Almirantazgo Fjord
© Hofman
Landscape in Tortel
© OCEANA | Eduardo Sorensen
Meet the new areas:
- Multipurpose Coastal Marine Protected Area “Almirantazgo Fjord,” identified by the Forum as Lighthouse of the Patagonian Sea and created with the support of WCS Chile.
- Multipurpose Coastal Marine Protected Area “Caleta Tortel,” identified by the Forum as Lighthouse of the Patagonian Sea and created with the support of Oceana Chile.
- Marine Park “Diego Ramirez Islands – Drake Passage”, created with the support of #NatGeoPristineSeas, which carried out an unprecedented scientific work and suggested the protection of the waters around Diego Ramírez Islands and Cape Horn. However, the designated area will not protect, for now, the marine ecosystem associated with the Cape Horn Archipelago, a Patagonian Sea Lighthouse. A challenge for the future, without a doubt.
- Marine Park and Coastal Marine Protected Area “Archipiélago de Juan Fernández,” created with the support of NatGeo Pristine Seas and Oceana Chile.
- Multipurpose Coastal Marine Protected Area “Rapa Nui,” around Easter Island, created with the support of Pew Environment.
This is the result of the work, commitment and COLLABORATION between governments, local communities, scientists and civil society organizations. We congratulate all parties involved, especially the organizations member of the Forum that for many years and from different regions have contributed to make this MILESTONE true.
In the context of a new government and after the creation of the new MPAs, their effective implementation and the incorporation of strategic protected areas that represent more marine ecosystems pose great challenges.