Australia formally declared vast tracts of ocean protected areas as part of efforts to create the world's largest marine reserve. The new reserve will total over 2.3 million kilometers, completing a 3 million kilometer ring around Australia's coasts. The Coral Sea, home to dozens of coral reefs and marine species, will also be protected. As part of the deal, Australia will pay fishermen around $100 million to compensate for the impacts of the reserve, and fishermen will have until July 2014 before restrictions on fishing practices take effect. Only some of the new reserves will completely ban fishing; some will permit limited commercial fishing while others will allow recreational fishing. Australia announced the plans in June, and the borders of protected areas have not changed. Prior to the 2010 election, the opposition party promised to suspend the rollout of new reserves, and while the declaration will not require parliamentary approval, management plans for each area will. For the full story, see http://www.smh.com.au/environment/marine-protection-has-plenty-in-reserve-20121115-29ew7.html. Earlier: http://elr.info/international/international-update/australia-create-worlds-largest-marine-reserves.