UK designates world’s largest marine reserve. The British government has established a 545,000-square-kilometer marine reserve around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, which is twice the size of the United Kingdom. With a ban on commercial fishing in what are known as “no take” zones, the global coverage of marine waters currently under protection has been doubled. The reserve is home to about 220 types of coral, 1,000 species of fish and 33 seabird species. It also hosts the world’s biggest living coral structure, the Great Chagos Bank.

Our hats off and many thanks, British government, for your caring action to preserve marine biodiversity. May many more countries act similarly to protect our precious oceans and their inhabitants.