Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke stated the protected zone would encompass an area more than one-and-a-half times the size of France, with new fishing limits imposed and and oil and gas exploration banned."There is no other part of Australia's territory where so much comes together - pristine oceans, magnificent coral, a military history which has helped define us and now a clear proposal for permanent protection," he said. The proposal is subject to a 90-day consultation, but Mr Burke said the Coral Sea's biodiversity was at the heart of the plan.

Lending key support is Ocean Elders, an independent group of global ocean leaders whose members include Dr Sylvia Earle, Sir Richard Branson, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ted Turner, Jackson Browne and others. Utilizing their collective influence and experience, they have joined forces to promote ocean conservation, pursue the protection of the ocean's habitat and wildlife, and preserve its ecosystems and biodiversity.

The group sent a letter to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard stating "This provides your government with an opportunity to create the world’s largest no-take marine reserve - one that extends from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to the limit of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone - and effectively protects the Coral Sea’s spectacular marine life, including whales, turtles, sharks, tuna, billfish, and its critical habitats."

The Coral Sea is one of the few places where ocean-going fish are found in great numbers. “In the last 50 years, the world has lost 90% of these large ocean creatures due to overfishing." said Dr Earle."We need to do all we can to protect one of the world’s last remaining refuges. That’s why I support a fully protected marine park in the Coral Sea within Australia’s waters. I call it a “hope spot” for the oceans."

Activists heralded the plan a good start but indicated key reefs and spawning grounds remain outside the protected area. Currently, the world's largest marine reserve is a 545,000-sq-km area (210,425 sq miles) established by the UK around the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

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