New Caledonia owns a vast maritime space which begins 12 nautical miles beyond the barrier reef and extends for as much as 200 nautical miles, or 1.3 million km2, the equivalent of three times the surface area covered by the waters bordering France.
From January 1, 2024,
the Coral Sea Natural Park has 5 new nature reserves and 1 new comprehensive reserve, 2 reserves have also seen enhanced protection status.
Natural reserves and integral reserves are two categories of protected areas with similar purposes, but with significant regulatory differences.
The nature reserve prohibits anything that is likely to harm or disturb wildlife, flora or natural habitats. Nevertheless, it allows for certain low-impact recreational activities and the conduct of scientific research. All access is subject to government authorization.
This perimeter is defined by the governmental decree which created the Natural Park of The Coral Sea on 23 April 2014.
The Natural Park includes New Caledonia’s maritime space as well as inhabited islands (Entrecasteaux, Chesterfield, Walpole, Matthew, Hunter). Underneath this huge body of water, varied kinds of reliefs can be found: high-sea areas, a deep-sea trench, sea mounts, volcanic islands, probably some hydrothermal vents, coral reefs (including the Pristine reefs, some of the few which remain intact today).
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