Cook Islands' shark sanctuary creates world's largest

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20709853


As shark numbers fall, other species further down the food chain are put at risk

The Cook Islands has approved a shark sanctuary in its waters, making for the largest such sanctuary in the world.

The South Pacific island chain declared a 1.9 million-sq-km sanctuary, contiguous with one established last week by neighbouring French Polynesia.

That sees a ban on shark fishing and possession or sale of shark products in an area now totalling 6.7 million sq km - nearly the size of Australia.

As top predators, overfishing of sharks disrupts complex oceanic food webs.

[MuseRider]

1. Great news! n/t