| Largest Marine Protected Area | 13 March 08 |
 The world's largest marine protected areas has been established by a small Pacific Island Nation of Kiribati. On January 30, 2008 Phoenix Islands Protected Areas (PIPA) was doubled in size, becoming the largest marine protected area on Earth.The 410,500 square kilometers of PIP conserves one of the richest marine feeding and spawning areas in the world, located in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Fiji. The ecosystem, nearly uninhabited by humans, consists of eight coral atolls, two submerged reef systems, underwater mountains, and other deep-sea habitat. The area is globally important for seabird nesting populations, and habitat for more than 120 species of coral and 520 species of fish. To maintain the protected area Kiribati has developed an endowment system to compensate for lost commercial fishing revenues. Visit Phoenix Islands Protected Area website View February 22, 2008 Science Daily article View February 14, 2008 Conservation International article View February 15, 2008 New Kerala article View February 13, 2008 Associated Press article Sources: Science Daily, Conservation International, New Kerala, Associated Press, Phoenix Islands Protected Area website |
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