Announcement: Chile Creates Enormous Ocean Preserve | National Geographic

That has been to Radha's islands are one of the most extraordinary places in the ocean. Populations of giant lobsters, abandoned populations of fish, small population of the threatened Juan Fernandez.

First, this is a place so unique that if it went away, there will be nothing left on our planet. What we're doing is trying to protect our ocean by concrete measures, not by words. The first thing that we have decided is to present to the world and to our nation new marine protected areas. The one around the Desmond Torre's island is a major endeavor—300,000 square kilometers.

Most of the ocean is unprotected, which is like a bank account where everybody withdraws but nobody makes. The marine protected areas are areas that we set aside like a savings account with the principal that produces interest. Actually, that is, you know, the future for fishing. Without marine protected areas, in addition to protecting the marine life, it needs boundaries.

This new marine part will also help to replenish the populations of commercial fishes that are caught by the Chilean fish industry. I think that Chile has a leadership role, and we have been pleased and we'll take it up. We have such a long coast that our future depends on the conservation of the ocean.

We're assuming our responsibility. We are responsible with the present generations and the ones that would come out.