Australian government to declare almost a third of its oceans ‘highly protected’ in the next five years

Conservationists have welcomed Australia’s commitment to protect its ocean but also urged more ambitious goals to address global heating. Photograph: Philip Thurston/Getty Images

The Australian government plans to declare 30% of its ocean “highly protected” by 2030, raising expectations from conservationists it will ban fishing and drilling in nearly a third of the country’s waters.

The environment minister, Murray Watt, told the UN Ocean Conference in France a review of 44 of Australia’s marine parks would “lay the foundation” to increase the area of the country’s ocean with higher levels of protection.